According to Sky Sports, FC Barcelona haven’t given up in their pursuit of Willian and have made a renewed bid in the region of £55 million. The Chelsea superstar has attracted the interest of a number of clubs across Europe, the chief among which are Barcelona and Manchester United.
While it’s no secret that United head coach Jose Mourinho is keen to team up with the Brazilian sensation once again, the Catalans have emerged as a major threat to their pursuit of Willian. That being said, both the clubs have so far been rebuffed in their attempts to lure him from West-London with Chelsea seemingly adamant on keeping hold of their prized attacker.
However, it is understood that the La Liga giants have lodged a third bid for Willian worth £55 million, though any further advances would have to wait, due to the Spanish league’s rule of registering a certain number of non-EU players.
Willian, 29, is regarded as an ideal candidate to bolster Barcelona’s attacking department this summer. Since arriving at Stamford Bridge in 2013, the Brazilian has emerged as a vital part in Chelsea’s offence that ultimately saw him become one of the best wingers in the English Premier League.
During his five years at Chelsea, the 29-year-old has featured in over 230 games for the club, netting 44 goals whilst providing 39 assists. In fact, he played a key role in both of Chelsea’s title-winning campaigns since 2013 implying he is no stranger to success either.
Barcelona, on the other hand, are in desperate need of a new winger this summer, following a disappointing debut campaign from Ousmane Dembele. The Frenchman, who moved from Borussia Dortmund for a whopping fee of £103.5 million last summer, has struggled with injuries, which has marred his career in Spain. And doubts remain on whether he will be able to perform to his true potential in the upcoming season, thus the addition of a new winger is imperative for the Catalans.
Many believe, Willian could be the final piece of the jigsaw with coach Ernesto Valverde particularly keen on lining him up alongside compatriot Philippe Coutinho in attack next season.
Although his performances in the recently concluded FIFA World Cup were topsy-turvy, the 29-year-old has shown that he can play at the highest level. His willingness to track back coupled with his ability to link-up with his teammates in the final third makes him a good fit for Barcelona as they aim to take Europe by storm in the forthcoming campaign. And this move further signifies the fact that the Catalans haven’t been shy of adopting different strategies in recent times.
With Chelsea missing out on Champions League this season and Sarri bringing in a whole new philosophy after numerous changes in recent times, Willian might actually have reason to aim for a move away and make a fresh start at one of the biggest clubs in the world.
Stats Courtesy: Whoscored
