Player ‘happy’ at Chelsea but won’t give up ‘dream’ of playing elsewhere

Willian once again finds himself on the front page of a Spanish newspaper.

Monday’s edition of Mundo Deportivo has the Chelsea attacker plastered across the cover, along with Napoli midfielder Fabian Ruiz.

The claim is that both players are holding back on contract renewals because they want to give Barcelona a chance to make a move for them.

Fabian Ruiz has a contract with Napoli until June 2023, so not signing a renewal won’t exactly put a great deal of pressure on the Serie A club over price. They already have the 23 year old well secured, and his situation isn’t as pressing as that of Willian.

Chelsea’s Brazilian will turn 32 years of age on August 9th, and his current contract expires in June. He can negotiate with other clubs from January onward to secure a free transfer next summer.

Mundo Deportivo claim Chelsea have offered Willian a two year contract with the option of a third. That sounds very generous from the Blues, given the player would be close to turning 35 years of age at the end of that period.

According to the Catalan newspaper, Willian is ‘happy’ at Stamford Bridge, but still has a ‘dream’ of signing for Barcelona, and is aware that a free transfer would make it much likelier.

Chelsea may not be prepared to wait endlessly for agreement on that renewal offer.