Frank Lampard makes key Chelsea FC decision about Willian
Chelsea FC boss Frank Lampard wants to keep Willian at Stamford Bridge in the long term
Frank Lampard says he wants to keep Willian at Chelsea FC beyond the summer.
The Brazil international’s future at the west London side has been a source of debate in the summer transfer window.
Willian has been regularly linked with a move to FC Barcelona over the past couple of months.
The Brazilian forward has less than 12 months left to run on his current deal to see his value drop.
Willian will be available to sign on a free transfer next summer as thing stand, and European clubs could reach a pre-contract agreement with the South American in January.
The Blues forward has been a key part of the Chelsea FC team under Jose Mourinho, Antonio Conte and Maurizio Sarri over the past six seasons in the English capital.
Sarri’s successor Lampard is eager to keep Willian at the Stamford Bridge outfit beyond the summer alongside Chelsea FC’s teenage star Callum Hudson-Odoi.
“I know the club are talking to him [Willian]. Willian and Callum are both players I want in my squad,” Lampard told his media conference on Monday.
“We’ve made some good moves this pre-season with Mason Mount and Ruben Loftus-Cheek signing new contracts, two young players nailed down and the club are always trying to do that.
“From a football sense, I’ve made my ideas very clear. I’m working very closely with Marina [Granovskaia] and the board because these are two players that we want to stay for sure.”
Chelsea FC appointed Lampard as their new manager earlier this summer after Sarri left the west London club to take over the reins at Juventus.
Sarri had a successful first season at Chelsea FC despite the Italian head coach being blighted by controversies.
Chelsea FC won the Europa League thanks to a 4-1 victory over Arsenal after the Blues finished in third place in the Premier League table.
