WILLIAN has all-but conceded his time at Chelsea is coming to an end this summer after he was told his demand of a three-year contract extension is “impossible”.
The Brazilian’s Blues deal is set to expire in the summer but he has been at loggerheads with Stamford Bridge chiefs who are only willing to hand the 31-year-old a two-year extension.
Chelsea have told Willian his three-year extension demand is ‘impossible’Credit: AFP or licensors
Willian is not giving up on thrashing out an agreement to keep him at the club, but admitted he has not re-entered negotiations after being told to forget about penning a three-year renewal.
He told Expediente Futebol: “Really a very beautiful story that I built at this club, I have a very special affection for the fans, for the people who work there and I identified myself a lot here.
“Everyone knows that my contract ends now in a few months, so the renewal is really a difficult thing to happen.
“I think it will be very difficult for me to renew because Chelsea offered me two years, I asked for three and it ended there, we didn’t talk anymore, we didn’t negotiate anymore.
“Three years – Chelsea said it would be impossible, so for now theres this difficulty, but nothing is impossible.
I think it will be very difficult for me to renew because Chelsea offered me two years, I asked for three and it ended there, we didn’t talk anymore, we didn’t negotiate anymore.
Willian on his Chelsea future
“We don’t know what can happen, suddenly we could make a deal and get it right. But what I can say today is that my contract is going over and I will be free to negotiate with any team.”
With Frank Lampard unable to make summer signings due to a transfer embargo at the start of the season, former team-mate Willian has became a regular starter, since scoring seven goals in 37 games.
But becoming available on a free transfer at the end of the campaign has attracted several suitors for the forward.
Barcelona – who had a £50million bid for the winger rejected in 2018 – Juventus, as well as Manchester United, Arsenal and Tottenham in England are among those linked with the Samba star.
And Willian revealed should his time at Chelsea come to an end, he will want to remain in Europe but ended any speculation that he has already began plotting his next move.
He said: “For now, I don’t think about returning to Brazil, my goal is to continue in Europe. I think I still have a market here, to continue playing at a high level for a few more years, so my goal is to stay in Europe.
“Really in the last few months this has happened, a lot of speculation. Really concrete, nothing. The only negotiation I had was with Chelsea.
“The only proposal that Barcelona made to me was in 2018, after the World Cup. That year the Chelsea did not accept, did not want to sell me. It is just speculation, there is nothing concrete. It is often more speculation.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
