Juve New Year move for Willian

JUVENTUS have made the opening move in a bid to engineer a January deal for Chelsea star Willian.

The Italian club have made contact with Chelsea in the last few days over a move for the 31-year-old Brazilian international.

Willian’s contract runs out in the summer, but Chelsea do not want to sell a player who has improved under Frank Lampard this season, and whom the new manager likes.

Willian (above) has also told friends that he would prefer to stay at Chelsea rather than work under former Blues boss Maurizio Sarri (below) again.

Juve coach Sarri sees Willian as a player who can improve his side, who are battling with Antonio Conte’s Inter Milan at the top of Serie A.

Willian has missed only one Premier League game this season under Lampard, scoring four goals.

Chelsea, now able to buy in January after the Court of Arbitration for Sport halved their transfer ban last week, are unlikely to allow Willian to leave unless they can bring in a replacement.

Striker Olivier Giroud is set to leave next month, with several clubs in Italy and in the MLS interested in the Frenchman.

William, like Giroud and Aston Villa target Pedro, will be free to talk to foreign clubs in January as their current deals run out in the summer.

Juventus are also interested in Chelsea fullback Emerson – but that is a deal the Italian club plan to pursue in the summer.

Chelsea’s other experienced left-back, Marcos Alonso, is another player on the wish-lists of Inter and Roma.