Willian to Arsenal transfer 'done' as Chelsea winger to sign two-year Gunners contract - 7M sport

Willian to Arsenal transfer 'done' as Chelsea winger to sign two-year Gunners contract



Posted Thursday, August 06, 2020 by Express.co.uk

Arsenal have reportedly agreed terms with Willian to sign the Brazilian from Chelsea on a two-year deal with an option for a third season.

Willian has agreed personal terms to move to Arsenal once his contract with Chelsea expires after their Champions League involvement ends. The Blues' 2019-20 campaign is not yet concluded as they prepare to face Bayern Munich in the second leg of a Champions League last 16 tie this weekend.

Trailing 3-0 from the first leg, Frank Lampard's side are widely expected to bow out of the competition in Bavaria on Saturday (8pm kick-off).

And in the following days after that, Willian is expected to seal a switch to Arsenal, who beat Chelsea in the FA Cup final last weekend.

Per Le10 Sport's Alexis Bernard, the deal is done - and free agent Willian will put pen to paper on an initial two-year contract.

There is also reportedly an option for Willian's stay at the Emirates to be extended for a third season.

Willian to Arsenal transfer 'done' as Chelsea winger to sign two-year Gunners contract
Willian to Arsenal transfer 'done' as Chelsea winger to sign two-year Gunners contract (Image: GETTY)

Willian to Arsenal transfer 'done' as Chelsea winger to sign two-year Gunners contract
Willian to Arsenal transfer 'done' as Chelsea winger to sign two-year Gunners contract (Image: GETTY)

The 31-year-old could earn as much as £150,000 a week at Arsenal, up £30,000 a week on his current salary at Chelsea.

The South American attacker rejected a fresh contract offer from the Blues this week, which was also a two-year offering - although it's not thought an extra year was included.

He had been keen on signing an agreement that would guarantee him a club for three years although appears to have now compromised with the terms offered by Arsenal.

Frank Lampard had been keen to keep the Brazil international in spite of the fact he has signed Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner and also wants to add Kai Havertz this summer.

Mikel Arteta is thought to want to add experience to his squad and while Willian turns 32 this weekend, his versatility means he will be a valuable asset to the Spaniard.

Primarily a right-sided winger, Willian can just as comfortably play off the left or as a No 10.

Willian to Arsenal transfer 'done' as Chelsea winger to sign two-year Gunners contract
Willian to Arsenal transfer 'done' as Chelsea winger to sign two-year Gunners contract (Image: TWITTER)

And his productivity remains impressive, having produced 11 goals and nine assists across all competitions this season.

He mustered four goals and two assists in eight Premier League appearances after the June restart and had long been a key player for Chelsea.

Le10 Sport say Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United were among the rival suitors for Willian, with Barcelona and Inter Miami also having been linked.

But Willian will instead stay in London and link up with Arsenal, with whom his agent Kia Joorabchian shares close connections.

The news of his arrival may not go down well however, with Arsenal having announced on Wednesday that they will make 55 members of staff redundant due to financial struggles caused by the coronavirus crisis.

A statement written by head of football Raul Sanllehi and managing director Vinai Venkatesham confirmed that, controversially, investment into Arteta's squad will not be impacted despite the job cuts.

It read: "Over recent years we have consistently invested in additional staff to take the club forward but with the expected reduction of income in mind, it is now clear that we must reduce our costs further to ensure we are operating in a sustainable and responsible way, and to enable us to continue to invest in the team.

"Our aim has been to protect the jobs and base salaries of our people for as long as we possibly can. Unfortunately, we have now come to the point where we are proposing 55 redundancies.

Willian to Arsenal transfer 'done' as Chelsea winger to sign two-year Gunners contract
Willian to Arsenal transfer 'done' as Chelsea winger to sign two-year Gunners contract (Image: GETTY)

"We do not make these proposals lightly and have looked at every aspect of the club and our expenditure before reaching this point. We are now entering the required 30-day consultation period on these proposals.

"We know this is upsetting and difficult for our dedicated staff and our focus is on managing this as sensitively as possible.

"These proposed changes are ultimately about ensuring we take this great football club forward, creating the right organisation for a post-Covid world, and ensuring we have the resources to return to competing effectively at the top of the game here and in Europe."

Among those reportedly set to lose their jobs are head of recruitment Francis Cagigao, recruitment specialist Brian McDermott and head of UK scouting Pete Clark - as well as several youth scouts.

It has been estimated that if the 55 people to lose their jobs earn £50,000 a year on average, then the club will save around £3m a year - though that is a mere fraction of their £240m annual wage bill.

The bulk of the club's first-team squad and coaching staff in April agreed a 12.5 per cent pay cut for 12 months due to COVID-19.



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