WILLIAN FREE TO JOIN ARSENAL
BRAZILIAN LEAVES BLUES
ARSENAL are this week hoping to wrap up the signing of Willian on a free transfer after the Brazilian confirmed he is leaving Chelsea.
Willian spent seven years at Stamford Bridge, but his contract expired after Chelsea’s Champions League defeat by Bayern Munich on Saturday.
Blues boss Frank Lampard had been keen to keep Willian, who turned 32 yesterday, but Arsenal are closing in on tying him down to a three-year deal.
The winger confirmed yesterday he would be leaving Chelsea after writing an open letter to the club’s supporters on Instagram.
“The time has come to move on,” said Willian. “I am certainly going to miss my team-mates. I will miss all the staff at the club who’ve always treated me like a son and I will miss the fans.
“I leave with my head held high, safe in the knowledge I won things here and always did my best in a Chelsea shirt.”
Willian’s arrival will be a major boost for Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta, who is looking to bolster his squad this summer.
The Spaniard specifically highlighted Willian as a player he wanted to bring in, with the Brazilian’s versatility and experience of winning major honours seen as valuable qualities to add to Arsenal’s young squad.
Some have questioned Arsenal’s decision to hand the 32-year-old a three-year deal, with Chelsea only offering him a two-year contract, but Willian’s performances this season have shown no signs of decline.
He also has a strong fitness record, having played more than 40 games in each of his seven seasons at Chelsea.
Willian’s arrival will also strengthen Arsenal’s hand as they look to tie down captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to a new contract.
The Gunners are close to agreeing a new deal with the forward, which would run until 2023 and be worth around £250,000-a-week.
A key part of persuading Aubameyang to stay has been assuring the 31-year-old Arsenal are ready to compete for honours now and the signing of Willian is an indication of how Arteta is planning to do just that.
Arsenal also want to strengthen in defence and are among a number of clubs interested in Lille’s Gabriel Magalhaes.
The 22-year-old defender has impressed in Ligue 1 and several sides from around Europe, including Everton, Manchester United and Napoli, are tracking him. Gabriel is set to leave France this summer, with the Brazilian left out of the Lille squad who faced AZ Alkmaar in a friendly on Saturday.