According to Sky Sports, Chelsea have once again rejected a bid from Barcelona to bring Willian to Nou Camp. The Brazilian has been linked for quite some time with the Blaugrana, but the Blues are seemingly not willing to let go of their influential winger.
Barcelona have been facing some trouble of late with their attacking options. In the last term, no one except Lionel Messi (and to some extent Luis Suarez) has been able to make a mark for the Catalan giants in the attacking department. This has reportedly led them to look for reinforcements ahead of the next season.
Barcelona’s Attacking Woes
In the last term, the likes of the Philippe Coutinho and Ousmane Dembele were unable to turn on the heat against the opposition in the domestic competitions and the Champions League. The Brazilian lacked the creative spark that made him a superstar at Liverpool. He also had to play out of position under the tutelage of Ernesto Valverde. On the other hand, the French youngster was bogged down by several injuries throughout the last season.
This has brought many players under the scanner at the Catalan club, and one name right on the top of their target list is that of Willian. The Brazilian ace has been an influential player for the Blues in the last term and helped them lift the UEFA Europa League as they decimated Arsenal in the final of the tournament by 4-1.
Why Willian?
After the departure of Eden Hazard to Real Madrid this summer, Willian is expected to play a crucial role in the Chelsea attack. However, with Barcelona calling, it might be too hard for the winger to resist and he might be on his way to Nou Camp.
In the last season, Willian featured in 56 matches for the Pensioners and helped them secure the third position in the Premier League table. Under the tutelage of their former manager Maurizio Sarri, Willian was given a significant role in the starting lineup, and he responded well to the Italian gaffer’s call. The Brazilian notched up eight goals to show for his efforts while assisting his teammates 14 times throughout the season. No wonder the Blaugrana would be happy to have a player of his calibre at their disposal in the next term.
Good Fit For Valverde
Though he is undoubtedly one of the superstars of modern day football, Willian always reacts like a hardcore professional on as well as off the pitch and is known to be a complete team player. The Brazilian ace is known for his versatility as he can play as the wide attacker on both sides of the pitch. The 30-year-old Chelsea star’s experience at the top level can also come handy for Valverde if Barcelona can land him in the summer transfer window.
With Hazard already gone, it would be tough for Chelsea to let their star forward leave Stamford Bridge this summer. However, it is to be seen whether the Blaugrana return with an improved bid for Willian and test the resilience of the west London club in an effort to strengthen their attack for the next term.
