Chelsea to lock down Willian to new long-term contract extension — report

Doom and gloom reign supreme once again after Chelsea crashed to a 1-0 defeat up at the Britannia to Stoke City.  The Blues didn't play particularly badly, but the actual quality of the performances hardly seems to matter in this season.  Good or bad, the order of the day seems to be lose-lose.

Amidst all the angst, Willian's performances (and especially his free kicks) have provided rare bright spots, although even he succumbed to the cosmic anti-Chelsea forces on Saturday with some ridiculously bad passing and tendency to hit the first defender with his free kicks and corners.

But as a reward for his good season so far, it would appear that Chelsea are ready to offer a contract extension.  Granted, it's just the Mirror so far who are reporting this, though they tend to be more early rather than completely wrong with such rumors.  These rumors dovetail nicely with the winger's recent declaration that he sure wouldn't mind becoming a Chelsea legend along the likes of Lampard and Drogba.

Willian is halfway through the five-year deal he signed when he joined from Anzhi Makhachkala, so the time is right for an extension.  His current deal runs through 2018, when he will be celebrating his 30th birthday.

Sign him up!