Everton must sign Willian on a free transfer from Chelsea.
Chelsea is roaring in the transfer market getting deals done one by one. Hakim Ziyech was the first to sign for the Blues, Timo Werner has agreed personal terms and Kai Havertz talks have begun. The London club has been fantastic in the forced off-season and is giving a glimpse of what could unfold next season.
New player arrivals for Chelsea will result in player departures as well with Chelsea cashing in on some of their players to generate extra funds. There are players who have their contracts running expiring in the summer and clubs are on alert to sign these free agents.
The contracts of Pedro and Willian expire at the end of the season as both the wingers are looking at the prospect of joining a new club. While Pedro is touted to join AS Roma on a free transfer, the future of Willian remains up in the air. The arrival of Timo Werner has killed the last of hopes of the Brazilian remaining at Stamford Bridge.
The Chelsea hierarchy have not offered any extension deals to the former Shaktar Donetsk winger and with the arrival of Werner, the possibility of a new deal is bleak. Willian too must make the decision of leaving the Blues as game time will be hard to come by after Timo Werner’s arrival in the team.
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Chelsea will have Werner, Christian Pulisic, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Tammy Abraham, Hakim Ziyech, Michy Batshuayi and Olivier Giroud competing for starting places up top, making next to impossible for Willian to break into the starting eleven every game. In fact, Giroud and Batshuayi will be looking at a massive reduction in game time and they too will be mulling over a move.
In such a situation, Everton must be vigilant and try to strike a deal with the 31 year old winger. It’s no secret that Everton have struggled on the right wing and need better reinforcements on the right flank. Theo Walcott is likely to be sold in the summer so Willian presents an opportunity to Everton to acquire one of the fastest and finest wingers in the league.
Willian has five goals and five assists in 14 Premier League starts this season, averaging 2 key passes and 2.3 dribbles per game. Even at 31, he hasn’t shown signs of slowing down and is a speedster down the right flank. He is not the best crosser of the ball but his move of cutting inside and dribbling makes up for his deficiencies in other areas. (stats via whoscored)
Everton are also linked with Cengiz Under and Adam Marusic but any of these moves is likely to cost the club a significant amount of money whereas Willian will be a Bosman transfer.
Should the Toffees sign Willian?