Willian holding firm on three-year contract demand

Willian may have agreed to stay with Chelsea beyond July 1 until the end of the season on a temporary contract, but that hasn’t led to any easing as far as his demands for a proper long-term deal are concerned.

With neither side addressing the situation in the last few weeks but Willian continuing to play a key role in the team, we may have started to believe that the soon-to-be 32-year-old would perhaps agree to stay on a one- or, at most, two-year extension (i.e. what Chelsea had tabled).

Alas, that’s not the case, as confirmed by the man himself this week in an interview with Brazilian media.

“I already had a conversation with the club a few months ago, even before this stop. Chelsea only offer me two years and I asked for three. My goal in the next contract is to sign for three years. So I haven’t had a deal with Chelsea yet.”

“This is what I asked the club for, three years of contract. If you give me that, I’ll get the pen and sign the contract tomorrow.”

One might think that Willian’s stubbornness might be backed by tons of offers from other teams, giving him a position of strength from which to negotiate, but that would be incorrect as well. As it turns out, Willian has not received any other propositions beyond the aforementioned Chelsea offer.

“There are rumours about several teams that may be interested. For the time being, I have had no concrete proposal. But rumours always arise. I’m waiting. My agent hasn’t given me any news yet. I’m waiting for his call.”

-Willian; source: Alê Responde via Sport Witness

Chelsea have offered to meet Willian halfway between his three-year demand and the club’s one-year-only over-30 policy. If that’s not good enough for him after seven years and almost as many trophies, then that’s a bit sad, but perhaps also for the better in the long run. We’re getting younger, and hopefully better: Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner are already coming in, and the transfer window isn’t even open yet!