Pundit Arena Because Sport Is Everything
Barcelona remain in negotiations with Chelsea over a possible move for forward Willian, having missed out on Antoine Griezmann.
Multiple reports on Tuesday have suggested that, while Barca have already had a bid in excess of £50m rejected for the Brazilian international, Chelsea are open to a deal at the right price.
BREAKING: Sky sources: @ChelseaFC and @FCBarcelona continuing talks over transfer for Willian after Chelsea rejected bid in excess of £50m. #SSN pic.twitter.com/XawsWcS8Dm
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) July 3, 2018
The Telegraph suggest that Chelsea would be open to doing business at around £60m (though would prefer to sell Danny Drinkwater for a somewhat ambitious £30m), with any sale likely fund a move for Russia’s World Cup star Aleksandr Golovin, amid reports of a potential £27m transfer from CSKA Moscow.
Willian has made 230 appearances since joining Chelsea in a £30m deal from Anzhi Makhachkala. Since joining, he has gone to win two Premier League titles, one FA Cup and one League Cup, and has become one of the most popular members of the Chelsea squad. However, rumours of a fall-out with manager Antonio Conte fuelled speculation that the 29-year-old would be looking to leave Stamford Bridge this summer.
In any event, it appears that Conte will be leaving the club in the near future too, with multiple reports suggesting that Maurizio Sarri will be appointed as Chelsea’s new manager early next week.
Regardless of if and when a deal is struck between Chelsea and Barcelona, it is unlikely that Willian will make any official moves before the end of Brazil’s participation in this summer’s World Cup in Russia.
Other names on the Blues’ radar include Daniele Rugani and Alisson Becker, though again this would depend on player sales used to balance the books. That said, the Blues may find some of their targets hard to convince without the lure of Champions League football next season.
