Despite the transfer window being closed, there is always transfer gossip doing the rounds in the papers and we’ll keep you up-to-date with the latest news during the coming months. Today, more on the future of Willian.

Brazilian attacker Willian claims Chelsea made a £20.3 million offer for him in the summer and has reiterated his desire to leave Shakhtar Donetsk and move to a bigger club, according to the Daily Mail.
The report claims a number of English clubs were interested in signing the 24-year-old in the summer but it was Chelsea who were understood to be leading the chase.
Willian has now confirmed in the Mail that the European champions submitted a £20.3 million bid for him and he was desperate to leave for Stamford Bridge, but Shakhtar blocked the move. The Brazil international has reiterated his desire to leave the Ukrainian champions for what he calls a ‘bigger club’, and claims the president is willing to give him his wish if an offer of £24.4 million comes in.
‘My goal is to play for a bigger club in a high level league.’ Willian said.
‘If I tell you that I was happy, I would be lying. My desire was there, with a £20.3million offer from a big club like Chelsea. I wanted to pack my things and go, but I can’t do that as I am under contract.
‘It shows how much Shakhtar like me and shows that I am doing a good job, which is why they wanted me to stay.
‘I have tried to convince them many times to let me go. I know that Juventus and Chelsea have made offers to buy me and that motivates me a lot.
‘The club know that I want to leave, everyone knows that. The president has told me that he’ll let me go for £24.4m and my intention is to sign for a big club.’
Willian is quoted as saying in the Daily Mail:
Read more Chelsea transfer news
Willian is a talented lad, as Chelsea found out to their detriment in the Champions League this season, but do the Blues still need him? They signed Eden Hazard, Victor Moses, Marko Marin and Oscar in the summer – all attack-minded players – so is there still a place for the Shakhtar ace in the team?
Some will say you can never have too many good players, but the manager can only play eleven men and he wont be able to keep them all happy for long if there is too many competing for places. But Willian is clearly angling for a move and if Roman Abramovich is feeling generous, you never know. So watch this space…
Would Chelsea fans like to see Willian at Stamford Bridge? Get involved in the comments section below.
Rick Gilhome
December 21, 2012 at 11:47 am
Chelsea need an out and out striker, and someone under 25. Villa is 31. Fellaini or Falcao are better options.
sam
December 21, 2012 at 11:52 am
Isco we need instead willian, every one has seen the talent of Spanish players ..silva, mata, michu, cazorla, etc ..17m buy out clause of Isco is worth to spend!
Matthew
December 21, 2012 at 12:02 pm
Willian is very good for chelsea to buy even at the rate of £25m
Matthew
December 21, 2012 at 12:03 pm
We need Brazilian strickers in chelsea
Tony
December 21, 2012 at 12:16 pm
Chelsea only need striker; Falcao
jazuliibrahim
December 21, 2012 at 12:36 pm
Yes william is good player & any player like him shows his interest 2 d club he can prove it. Not like useless tores.
Udochi
December 21, 2012 at 12:55 pm
Chelsea priorly need a striker (Falcao) and a defensive midfielder (Fellaini, who is also attacking-minded). Getting a naturally gifted attacking midfielder/winger (Isco, Jao Mountinho, or Willain) is not a bad idea to make for a reasonable squad depth. If these players are added and the team gels the way it should, the club would almost become indomitable against any other club whatsover, especially if the relevant tactical formation is used! Just imagine pairing D. Luiz & M. Fellaini in D.M! 🙂
Okieez
December 21, 2012 at 1:44 pm
I think chelsea should hold talk wit ramadel n willian…coz moses is going for afcon in january. N i got sumtin to also say to benitz,rafa stop playing oscar out of position i don’t puy such an idea!
Ojolowo Asimiyu
December 21, 2012 at 1:46 pm
Chelsea need striker like falcao and williams too in the mid-field.
JoSmA
December 21, 2012 at 2:29 pm
Pls chelsea owner buy williams ad facao in january cuz moses s goin 4 afcon xo buy williams pls
Zane
December 21, 2012 at 2:29 pm
Lmao! Guys! Think of what you are saying. We cannot go and buy every player under the sun. We already have so many attacking midfielders in the squad so Willian will be a waste of money unless we sell one of the three amigos which we all probably don’t want to see happen. Fellaini in the double pivot? Nah he is just another Ramires who can’t play as a regista (deep laying playmaker). We need a player who can act as a Xabi Alonso,Xavi or Shweinsteiger who can be disciplined and play as one with his defensive partner (Mikel) in the double pivot.
amin
December 21, 2012 at 2:32 pm
yes he is very talent and we need him in the term so that he can help my striker to score goal.but i still believe in el-nino
jazuliibrahim
December 21, 2012 at 4:18 pm
U are not true blue.
TONY LEGEND
December 21, 2012 at 6:51 pm
I tink chelsea shuld concerntrate on gud strikers than midfielder, bcos ther’e most important now. d likes of falcoa,cavani& javi matinez
Moses Ashioma
December 21, 2012 at 7:48 pm
If chelsea want to be fit in all competitions they need to get a active striker like Radelmel facao and strong midfielder like william because lampard is weak in that midfield. Not to talk of the misfairing 50 million pouds striker. There are other strong striker to buy to strenghten the team.
Zane
December 21, 2012 at 8:04 pm
Willian isn’t a strong midfielder. He is an attacker who can operate on the wings and in the whole. He definitely can’t play deep in midfield where Lampard plays now. You might aswell say Chelsea should play Marin,Moses or Hazard in the double pivot. I agree we do need a strong player in the midfield but rather a regista,a player who is suited for that role. I said it above in my previous comment. Chelsea don’t need Willian now.
Zane
December 21, 2012 at 8:05 pm
I meant to say he can also play in the hole,not the whole. Sorry.
Daninoh
December 21, 2012 at 9:03 pm
We need William and falcao in chelsea
Tony
December 21, 2012 at 9:16 pm
I whant william to come to chelsea he is a good player if u look what he againt chelsea u will no that he has foot ball on is leg roma go for him
Ayobami
December 21, 2012 at 10:24 pm
Willian his good it will make us has a̶̲̥̅̊ Strong subtitutions
Destiny Ehi
December 22, 2012 at 5:16 am
Pls mr. Roman let buy this two players willian and facao becuse we need a good strong scorely and they are feet to be mikil and moses we live to african cup of naction pls let buy the two of theme thank u, up blue (great)
Orteega
December 22, 2012 at 6:07 am
Who is william? Just an average winger,we have that sorted out with moses hazard nd marine. What will need from them is fernadiho or pauliho in our midfield. We need a striker to help torres out like Radamel Falcao
Orteega
December 22, 2012 at 6:13 am
Chelsea needs a dangerous front line like manU and man city if possible chelsea should buy all three striker which is Isco,Falcao,cavani. Then instead of william we should buy Hamsik from napoli
Adillis
December 22, 2012 at 8:28 am
We need falcao, hamsik. But we still need willian n fellaini to replace moses n mikel when dey go for afcon.
bilel torres
December 22, 2012 at 11:43 pm
we need a left back and a defender because we have some probleme in defence and i think that willian can help the team but actually hegwain from real madrid is better
abdulrashid
December 23, 2012 at 7:22 am
instead of adding another attacking midfielder, roman should just buy strikers ie falcao an cavani. Den baines of everton and fellaini
Mlungisi
December 23, 2012 at 10:29 am
We love Willian,He hav love 2 play in our team,we need him
Papapikin
December 26, 2012 at 9:22 pm
Pls chelsea owner shld sel torres cos he is a waste nd he shld stop dismisn coaches i tink dat mak our players nt blendn 4 nw me av players dat can make a team but he shld giv rafa smal tym 2 build d team cos he is a Good manger.
Delex
December 27, 2012 at 8:46 am
Pls roman just get us falcao as a striker and a strong midfielder fellaini or hamsik and a left back 2 replace cole and chelsea wil b awesome
Delex
December 27, 2012 at 8:58 am
As a mata of fact havin willian,fellaini,falcao,villa,ekotto, is not a bad option cus mikel and moses ar leaving 4 nation’s cup so we nid any player roman wil buy 4 chelsea and i urge him 2 buy those player mentioned blues 4 life
Alex
December 29, 2012 at 8:44 am
Chelsea shld go 4 paulihno and taison and all striking and midefild problem wl be ok