Willian is set to terminate his contract with Brazilian giants Corinthians with a Premier League return now a very real possibility for the Fulham target, as reported by ESPN.
It’s now two hugely disappointing moves in a row for the 70-time Brazil international. First Arsenal, now Corinthians. Fulham will be hoping two does not become three, with the former Chelsea favourite looking increasingly likely to continue his West London journey.
According to Goal, Marco Silva’s Cottagers are in talks with Willian. And the 34-year-old is certainly keen on such an opportunity, his love of life in the English capital well documented.
Willian has a year-and-a-half remaining on his Corinthians contract. But, with the one-time Shakhtar Donetsk talisman pining for an immediate return to the other side of The Atlantic, Meu Timao reports that an early exit has been agreed, the final 18 months of his deal torn up.
Willian could return to the Premier League with Fulham
“I know my performance wasn’t what I expected,” Willian admits. “But I’ve never been a player to score 20 or 30 goals a season.”
Willian has a point. Then again, Corinthians still probably expected better than one goal in 45 matches.
The club were knocked out of the Copa Libertadores by Flamengo earlier this week. And that looks almost certain to be Willian’s final appearance in Corinthians colours.
“I don’t want to talk about this subject, because I don’t want to rule anything out,” Corinthians president, Duilio Monteiro, said post-match.
“We scheduled a conversation after today’s game. So tomorrow (Wednesday) morning we’ll have a conversation. He has a contract until the end of next year, but we’ll leave that for tomorrow.
We’ve just come out of an elimination (from the Copa) and I don’t want to hide anything, or rule out anything. There is the possibility of an exit.”
Willian’s arrival could help offset the injury-enforced absences of Harry Wilson and Manor Solomon at Fulham. The Cottagers are also hopeful of landing Roma’s Justin Kluivert. He is training alone in Italy, no longer part of Jose Mourinho’s plans.
Kluivert may be available for as little as £8 million too.
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