Football transfer news: Chelsea star Willian addresses Barca link-up

Chelsea star Willian has ruled out a return to Brazil in the summer, but is reportedly cagey over his Chelsea future amid fresh links to Barcelona. The attacker’s current deal expires at the end of the season and several top clubs in Europe, including Juventus and Barcelona, are keeping a tab on his situation, spotting a potential bargain. Brazilian giants Corinthians, where Willian began his career, are thought to be keen on bringing the 31-year-old back home but he intends to stay in Europe for the foreseeable future, according to British media reports.

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Barcelona are not giving up on their pursuit of Willian and are reportedly keen on signing the Chelsea star on a free transfer when his contract expires next summer. The Spanish giants have long admired the Brazilian playmaker and failed with a £40million bid to bring him to the Nou Camp in the most recent transfer window.

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However, Barca boss Ernesto Valverde remains keen to bolster his attacking options, having allowed Philippe Coutinho to join Bayern Munich on loan in the summer, and Willian is at the top of his wishlist. It is believed the Nou Camp giants even attempted to sign him in 2013 before he joined Chelsea but the Spanish media has now reported that he could indeed become a Barca player seven years later.

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Willian has scored one goal and provided one assist in his five Premier League starts this season, scoring another in the Champions League. The winger has refused to sign a contract extension with the Blues and could start negotiating a free transfer in January ahead of next summer as his current deal runs out on June 30, 2020.

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Willian faces age issue

The only issue for the Catalan giants would be Willian’s age as he recently turned 31 and the club want to focus more on younger players. Ernesto Valverde has shown a lot of attention to younger talent such as Frenkie de Jong, Arthur, Carles Perez, Ansu Fati, Rafinha and Carles Alena. Willian joined Chelsea in the summer of 2013 just before he was ready to sign with Tottenham. Since then, the former Anzhi Makhachkala ace has made 299 appearances for the London giants.