Willian: Chelsea reject €40m offers from Atlético and Barça
The Brazilian international is out of contract next summer but Chelsea are keen to hold onto him after having already lost Eden Hazard.
Chelsea have turned down offers from both Atlético Madrid and Barcelona for Willian, according to Sky Sports.
Both LaLiga clubs are understood to have made offers of £35 million (40 million euros) for the Brazilian midfielder.
The 30-year-old is out of contract next summer and if he doesn’t agree new terms with Chelsea, the club runs the risk of losing him on a free next summer. But despite this, the Blues’ are keen to hold onto him after having already lost Eden Hazard to Real Madrid.
Chelsea’s decision could have been largely determined by the Fifa-imposed sanction that leaves them without the power to sign players for two transfer windows, starting this summer.
Willian rejected Barça last summer
Barcelona also tried to sign the Brazil international last summer, by the player’s own omission. But at the time, Willian told the media he had no intentions of leaving Stamford Bridge.
Having had three bids turned down last summer, El Blaugrana have tried their luck again – coming in with a much lower offer with Chelsea’s complicated position in mind – but to no avail.
Atlético, meanwhile, are looking to strengthen their attacking options after Antoine Griezmann announced he would leave the club this summer.
The Madrid outfit are understood to be on the verge of signing 19-year-old Benfica starlet Joao Félix for 120 million euros, according to reports in Portugal.
But as it stands, it seems Willian will be staying put at Stamford Bridge, where he has been for the past six seasons after joining from Anzhi in 2013 for 35 million euros.