Arsenal ‘optimistic’ about signing Willian on a free transfer — report

Despite Chelsea’s best attempts to sign Willian to a new contract, it looks unlikely that the veteran winger will accept the Blues’ two-year deal. Willian has consistently maintained that he is looking for a three-year deal in what could possibly be the last contract of his European career, and so, as things stand, he will be walking out the door as a free agent once the current season ends.

One club linked with Willian multiple times over the last few months have been Arsenal, and according to ESPN Brazil, that possibility is getting closer. The Gunners don’t have the finances to spend heavily in the upcoming transfer market, and signing the soon-to-be 32-year-old would be somewhat of a coup given the circumstances.

Willian’s agent, Kia Joorabchian appears to have quite an influential role at Arsenal these days and that will no doubt factor into this potential transfer. According to certain quarters, the super-agent is even “pushing” Arsenal to sign his client. With Mesut Özil ostracized from the squad, Gabriel Martinelli nursing a long-term injury and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang apparently on his way out, there’s a strong possibility that he may get his wish.

Chelsea have signed two top-class attackers in Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner already as part of the next phase of rebuilding the team, to add to all the young talent already at the club like Christian Pulisic and Callum Hudson-Odoi. While we’d prefer if Willian didn’t move to a close rival, it’s his choice at the end of the day.