ARSENAL have been offered the chance to sign Chelsea winger Willian as a cut-price replacement for skipper Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
SunSport revealed that the Brazilian is demanding a three-year deal which matches his current £120,000-a-week salary as he prepares to quit Stamford Bridge as a free agent.
Cash-strapped Arsenal are reluctant to tie themselves to such a long-term agreement for a player who will be 32 in August.
But Willian – who has also attracted interest from Liverpool and Inter Milan – is desperate to remain in London and could yet be open to lowering his demands.
Gunners boss Mikel Arteta will likely have to shift his second-highest earner off his wage bill this summer as he will be forced to sell skipper Aubameyang.
So Arsenal will look to sell their 20-goal top scorer for £30million rather than lose him for nothing next year.
And the clubs severely restricted transfer budget makes Willian, who can operate on either flank, such an attractive short-term proposition for Arteta.
The Spaniard could also have a new look central-defensive partnership of returning loan signing William Saliba and his French countryman Axel Disasi.
The Reims centre-back has shone this season to inspire his unfancied club to fifth and Arteta has been tracking the £18m-rated star since January.
Disasi, who is under contract with the French outfit until 2021, has been a mainstay in the best defence in Ligue 1 with just 21 goals conceded this term.
And Saliba has been tipped to slot into Arsenal’s first-team upon arrival after individually impressing for struggling Saint-Etienne.
The 19-year-old registered an 88 per cent pass accuracy rate for his relegation-threatened side, while also boasting 6 completed takeons in just 12 league games.
Elsewhere, goalkeeper Bernd Leno is expected to retain his place between the sticks while both Hector Bellerin and Kieran Tierney will feature at full-back should they shake off their injury niggles.
Meanwhile, Arsenal’s chances of hopes of signing Thomas Partey this summer are said to rest on their unlikely bid to qualify for the Champions League.
Reports emerged this week that the midfielder’s dad suggested Atletico Madrid are locked in negotiations with the Gunners over a fee.
However, Partey’s representatives denied talks are ongoing and claimed the reports are “totally untrue”.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
