Chelsea boss Frank Lampard will understandably have the last word on Willian, it has been reported.
The former Derby manager wants to see the 30-year-old in training before reaching a conclusion on his long-term stay at Stamford Bridge, according to a report from the Daily Express.
Meanwhile, the Brazilian is currently on vacation and is yet to join the Blues camp for pre-season because of his participation in Copa America, where Willian emerged triumphant with the national side.
The right-footed forward also scored 8 goals and 14 assists in 56 appearances for the London based outfit across all competitions last term which shows he is more than equipped to deliver again.
Let’s look at the three reasons the Blues boss must consider before taking a call.
Transfer Ban
The Stamford Bridge Club was handed a two-window ban earlier in the year and after numerous appeals so far it looks like the embargo is here to stay.
This means the Blues won’t be able to invest in the squad this summer and the departure of Eden Hazard to Real Madrid has left them short of quality options upfront.
Willian, even when he is getting on the wrong side of 30, can help them overcome this difficult period at the Bridge seeing limited options available to Chelsea boss Frank Lampard.
Even when he is not starting, he can act as more than a decent backup for the Blues especially with the club competing on multiple fronts next season including the Champions League.
Willian suits Lampard’s style of play
The 41-year-old manager deployed his former side Derby in such a way that they used the wide spaces for crosses and cut-backs in an efficient manner.
The wingers and fullbacks link up to whip in crosses and try cut-backs from the flanks and wide-areas with midfielders overloading the area in and around the penalty box.
This particular attribute is something the Brazilian forward excels at- the right-footed forward managed 1.4 crosses per game in all competitions last season.
Apart from his crossing prowess, the veteran also possesses unpredictability in his style of play often using the fullback’s run as a decoy to shift inwards and have a pop at goal.
The 30-year-old managed 1.8 shots per 90 minutes, which speaks volumes about his confidence in and around the 18-yard-box.
Injuries and Willian’s experience could be vital
To make things go from bad to worse, aside from certain departures, the Blues were also hit by a number of injuries with Callum Hudson-Odoi and Ruben Loftus Cheek the two main casualties.
With no new signings and a new manager at the helm, injuries are the last thing Chelsea want right now.
But as the external factors remain out of hand, a senior player like Willian who has a plethora of Premier League experience under his belt could play a significant role in cushioning the impact the expected period of transition will have on the squad.
Stat Courtesy: Transfermarkt, Whoscored
