Arsenal are believed to be in advanced talks with Kia Joorabchian over the signature of Willian, despite Chelsea’s tabled contract.
The Blues are believed to have offered a two-year contract to their Brazilian forward, who has played a key role throughout their campaign in helping them qualify for the Champions League.
Willian will likely be a sure thing to start the FA Cup on Saturday also, when we go toe-to-toe in the final, which looks set to be his last match in a Chelsea shirt.
His club have a rule about not offering long-term deals to players over 30, and despite the winger thoroughly impressing throughout the season, and also being amongst the best players in the division since the return of action following the break, the club are still unwilling to break their silly rule.
Arsenal can now be the team to profit from their nonsense by landing a player in his prime, and on a free transfer also.
Sports Journalist Nicolo Schira has confirmed on her Twitter that our side has entered into advanced talks with his agent ahead of a possible summer move.
Willian wouldn’t be the first player we have persuaded to trade Chelsea for the Emirates either, with David Luiz and Petr Cech both leaving Stamford Bridge to become key figures in our first-team in recent years.
The defender hasn’t been away from controversy much throughout the campaign, but Mikel Arteta has persisted with his bid to get the best out of him, and the new formation appears to have done just that.
Willian has also impressed in a similar system at Chelsea previously, when Antonio Conte guided them to the Premier League title back in the 2016-17 season.
Would the two Brazilians flourish together if reunited next season?
Patrick
I’m a fan of Willian but I really hope this isn’t true. His wages will be silly and for three years. It’ll be another depreciating asset draining our sparse resources. Bring on Joelson!
I’m with you Sean, but despite the injury to Martinelli, I do not see us buying another winger, as I expect Pepe to be more productive next season.In hindsight Sarr of Watford would to me have been a better buy than Pepe but it’s easy to be wise after the event.
I am firmly against what I se as a disastrously bad idea to award Willian a three year deal at high wages ans already aged 31 Chelsea are correct to stand firm against his unfair demands and it will be our loss if we go ahead wuth this deal.
I say this despite him being , RIGHT NOW, still a top player. It is the wrong way to BUILD a team and risks BEING A HUGELY EXPENSIVE AND RESTRICTING MISTAKE, WHICH WE MAY WELL REGRET, LIKE WE DO WITH THE OZIL DEAL.
Jon, I’m sure you know I don’t hide my opinion and I do call out names and say who’s to blame whenever I believe so.
You’re right, this deal is wrong, there’s one man behind this.. Just like Gazidis, Raul is behind this.
I wonder WTF Edu actually does, other than helping us get Martinelli, I wonder what he does at the club. Raul Sanhelli isn’t doing any better than Gazidis.
Making wrong moves and wrong transfers. This Is what he sent our scouts and Sven out parking for.
Brace yourself, we’ll be seeing more players from Kia’s list instead of what we need
Raul Sanhelli will be the downfall of this regime with this contact/agent búllshît he keeps pressing on!!!
The man constantly ignores what we need and constantly goes for players made available by Kia!!
It’s disturbing how people don’t see this red flag and they think Raul is the savior.
So what else? Who should we expect from Kia’s list next??
Sounds so stupid that it is likely to happen.
I shudder at the wages he would demand as a free transfer. And with little to no resell value we could end up with another Ozil.
I am a big fan of Willian, I think he is a very skilful player and the sort of player we need. Arsenal under Wenger used to have that stupid rule about not giving long contracts to players over 30 so we had to sell Henry and Fabregas when they were at their peak , hopefully Arteta has scrapped that insane rule! Go after world class youth certainly but there are plenty world class players over 30 and Willian is one of them. Go get him
@Bernard I think he is good as well, I just do not see him as worth the price and the risks. Plus I think we need to fix midfield and defensive issues before we look at offence.
Our attack can be improved upon, but it is quite good and will be enough until other areas are fixed.
We just offered 20M + an unamed player for Partey rejected by Athetico.
Can be Gendouzi who we refused to add 45M for Couthino.
Nor Laca; we would not add anymoney in sjch swaps.
Athetico rejected that crazy offer, wonder player we proposed. Niles probably. What you guys think of this?
There are reports that it’s Guendouzi
If we are looking for a freebie we might as well go for Ryan Fraser. He is younger, has resell value, is a hard worker, can make assists, is likely on a lower wage.
But I rather see we stay clear of both Fraser and Willian.
This guy is an unbelievable talented player in his prime, on a free transfer any day! Chelsea’s best player this season, this is what we need if Arsenal wants to challenge for CL spots.
Williams any day…will be a very good addition to our team…and also on a free transfer
Don´t we need central midfielders and central defenders more?
Are we not well set for now with Auba, Laca, Pepe, Saka, Martinelli? If we get Willian, Saka and Martinelli will get less playing time.
If our current owner is prepared to idly stand by and allow Raul and his cronies to waste his money on questionable signings, completely oblivious to the pressing needs of the Club, then – relegation fight – here we come!! In our current state, who would sanction 45M for a 17 year old prospect or 200M plus per week for an ageing midfielder with no resale value. And yet they tell us they are skint.