In Focus: Man United may be fighting a losing battle in Willian pursuit
According to reports in the Daily Mail, Manchester United have made an enquiry for Chelsea attacking midfielder Willian, who has scored 21 goals in 147 Premier League appearances for the Blues, but they face a battle to prise the frustrated Brazilian away from Stamford Bridge.
What’s the word, then?
Well, the Daily Mail says that Red Devils boss Jose Mourinho is keen to be reunited with the 29-year-old having worked with him during his second spell with the Blues, but the Premier League holders don’t want to sell him in January.
The Daily Mail says the Brazil international is popular among teammates, but he has become unhappy at his lack of first-team minutes under Antonio Conte – he did start against Huddersfield Town on Tuesday in the absence of Alvaro Morata however – and knows that Mourinho is an admirer of his style of play.
The report adds that while Chelsea don’t want to lose Willian in January as they look to keep their squad intact, an extraordinary offer could persuade them to sell given he will be 30 next year.
How has Willian done this season?
Even though he has found first-team starts hard to come by, the 29-year-old has still made 25 appearances in all competitions, scoring five goals and providing a further seven assists.
The Brazilian put in a man of the match display against Huddersfield during the week, netting one and assisting the other two in the 3-1 win, to show useful and important he still is to this Chelsea side.
Would he be a good signing for United?
He certainly would be.
The versatile forward would certainly boost the Red Devils’ attacking options, while Mourinho is also a big fan of Willian because he isn’t afraid to do his defensive duties either.
The Brazil international has shown how influential he can be, and he was Chelsea’s standout player in the few months before Mourinho was sacked by Chelsea following a disastrous start to the 2015/16 campaign.
Can they get him in January?
It seems unlikely.
While Mourinho is clearly interested in the 29-year-old, it remains to be seen whether he would be willing to pay the extraordinary fee that it seems is required to prise the attacker away from Stamford Bridge.
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