Reports linking Arsenal with a move for Willian have Chelsea legend Dennis Wise fearing the prospect of a ‘quality player’ leaving Stamford Bridge to join their London rivals, while speaking to Stadium Astro.
With the evergreen Brazilian hoping to keep his young family in their London home, there is a very real chance that one of Chelsea’s most long-serving players could be whipping in crosses for one of their neighbours in 2020/21
Spurs boss Jose Mourinho has already been tipped to reunite with a player he brought to England seven years ago.
And, according to BleacherReport, Arsenal are willing to offer Willian the three-year contract he desires.
The £120,000-a-week winger is due to walk away from Chelsea on a free in August, with the Blues only offering him a two-year deal so far.
With Willian still very much at the peak of his powers, taking his personal tally to ten goals and seven assists this season since Project Re-start got underway, Wise is understandably concerned that a major transfer blunder could be committed this summer.
“Well, I wouldn’t want him to go to any of them, I’ve got to say because it’ll be competition for Chelsea. Go to Italy please, Willian. Go away,” Wise said when asked about the prospect of the 31-year-old joining Arsenal or Manchester United.
“I think he’d be a good fit for anyone; Arsenal, I think he’d be a wonderful fit for them. That’s the sad thing about it, we’ll let him go to an opposition who wants to compete.
“I would love Chelsea to keep him. Once you take him out, with the quality he has, the assists that he gives, the goals he gives, you’re taking a big chunk of it out [of the team].
“We’ll miss him when he goes, he’s been a wonderful talent for Chelsea. He is a quality player.”
Willian will celebrate his birthday in August.
So it’s fair to say Arsenal would be taking a major sporting and financial risk offering the 2019 Copa America winner the chance to stay at the Emirates until he is 35.
For now, however, there is no doubt that Willian’s ability to influence games at the very highest level remains undiminished.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
