Chelsea star Willian open to joining Arsenal on free transfer in summer… if Arteta’s side qualify for Champions League
CHELSEA winger Willian could join Arsenal on a free transfer in the summer if Mikel Arteta's side qualify for the Champions League, according to reports.
Willian's current deal expires this summer with the club stalling on a new contract for the 31-year-old.
The Blue have a policy of only offering one-year extensions to players over 30 but Willian is holding out for a three-year deal.
Chelsea boss Frank Lampard is keen to get a deal done for Willian but director Marina Granovskaia is reluctant to agree to a contract longer than 12 months.
As a result, it could open the door for Arsenal to raid their rivals as they look to boost their squad after an underwhelming season so far.
A deal for Willian could depend on the Gunners qualifying for the Champions League, but there is eight points between them and Chelsea in fourth.
Arsenal are ninth after only winning nine games this season but are in a mini revival, having not lost in the league since December, a 2-1 defeat to Lampard's side.
Wllian has scored six times in 37 appearances in all competitions this season and has played a key part in Lampard's first season in charge.
If both parties were unable to agree a deal, Chelsea could turn their attention to Borussia Dortmund star Jadon Sancho.
Sancho, who is the third top scorer in the Bundesliga, became the first Englishman to record 15 assists in a season since Lampard.
Willian told ESPN Brazil: "There’s nothing with any other team.
“My negotiation for now is with Chelsea.
"There’s still nothing concrete from any team.
“And the situation with Chelsea is still that way.
"They offered me two, I demanded three, and it stopped there."
A move for the Dortmund attacker would cost Chelsea over £100million, which could tempt Granovskaia to offer Willian a longer deal.
The Chelsea boss is set offer 18-year-old Anjorin a new five-year deal after making his Premier League debut as a substitute during Sunday's 4-0 win over Everton.
Anjorin has been with Chelsea since he was six and now looks to extend his stay at Stamford Bridge.