Maurizio Sarri has finally been announced as the new Chelsea boss but the Italian has just over two weeks to get his signings for the summer over the line. The Blues are desperate to improve on several areas of the squad but the unrest till date this summer might see them lose a couple of their first team stars.
While both Eden Hazard and Thibaut Courtois are extensively linked with an exit, one player that might quit before them, is Brazilian winger Willian. After a decent outing in the World Cup, the 29-year old will now want to sort his future out and reports suggest that Catalan giants Barcelona have now made their third bid to try and land Willian.
Having joined the club back in 2013, Willian has 236 appearances for the club in all competitions, where he has registered 44 goals and 39 assists. Last season, he scored 13 goals for the club, and also picked up three assists, for which he was named the Player’s Player of the Year for Chelsea.
He has won all three domestic titles with the Blues but Antonio Conte did not even name him in the squad for the FA Cup final against Manchester United last season. He is definitely unsettled, has just two years left on his current deal at Stamford Bridge and it is understood that Ernesto Valverde wants him at any cost.
Chelsea have already rejected a bid of €53m from Barcelona earlier this week but it is now understood that the Catalan giants have returned with an improved €55m offer, which could be hard for Chelsea to turn down.
At 29, Willian is an experienced and established star at the highest level and is a huge loss for any club. However, with Sarri taking over, he might be tempted to let him leave and spend the funds to find an upgrade on improving other areas of the squad.
Willian might have to fight with Ousmane Dembele for a place in the first team and at 29, he is not a long-term option but Barcelona are desperate for him and this move now just seems a matter of time.
So Chelsea and Sarri can already start searching for upgrades as it is a role that needs addressing, either way, this summer. With Pedro as the only natural winger in the squad, if Willian leaves, the manager can sign a first-team wide-man, one that fits into his system perfectly. So losing the Brazilian will not be the end of the world but do you think Chelsea should hold on?
