Liverpool have been linked with a move to sign Chelsea forward Willian on a free when his current deal expires.
Reports came out earlier in the week that signalled Liverpool would be interested in making a move for the Brazilian. They’ve since been rubbished, but we thought it would be a good exercise to see why and how he might fit in at Anfield.
Chelsea aren’t prepared to offer Willian what he wants, in contract length terms, and so it appears as if he’ll be off to pastures new in the summer. This’ll be the first time in seven years that the forward will have to find a new club, and the next step is important in his career.
Play his cards right, and the Brazil international could come out of it with one last payday and the chance to secure his legacy as an excellent modern professional. Get it wrong, and his reputation could sink faster than Boris Johnson’s.
Liverpool would be an attractive proposition for the player. He’d be swapping Stamford Bridge for Anfield and the chance to seriously challenge across multiple fronts. Winning trophies at the wrong end of a career has got to make the mouth water.
While at his age (Willian will be 32 when the next season starts), playing a reduced role in first team affairs would prolong his sporting life and give him additional time to recover and prepare.
As we can see, there are a few factors which might make this attractive to both side. Click through the slides below to read about three of the main ones.