Willian to Manchester United: Chelsea block move as midfielder 'nears new four-year contract' with Blues

United are willing to pay up to £60 for Willian but he has chosen to remain with Chelsea

Jack de Menezes
Wednesday 22 June 2016 04:09 EDT
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Willian is ready to sign a new four-year contract with Chelsea
Willian is ready to sign a new four-year contract with Chelsea (Getty)

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Willian will turn down both Manchester United and his former manager Jose Mourinho to sign a lucrative contract extension with Chelsea after impressing during their ill-fated title defence in 2015/16, according to reports.

The Brazilian attacking midfielder was Chelsea’s only standout player during the first five months of the season that culminated in Mourinho’s sacking, and it was reported earlier this month that Mourinho is considering making a bid for the 27-year-old to try and take him to United this summer.

Willian is currently on holiday after Brazil’s early exit from the Copa America, but it’s reported by The Sun that the player’s agent has been in talks with Chelsea over a new four-year contract that will end any possibility of him moving to Old Trafford.

The former Anzi Makhachkala attacking midfielder still has two years remaining on his current contract, but Chelsea are eager to secure the services of one of their standout players across the past two seasons, and are willing to reward the Brazil international by increasing his £85,000-a-week wages to a six-figure sum to bring him in line with Chelsea’s top performers.

The Blues are yet to press on with their transfer business as they await the arrival of new manager Antonio Conte, who will join up with the club once his duties with the Italian national team have ended at Euro 2016.

Summer 2016 Transfer Window - Done deals and rumours

It’s understood that Conte is a big fan of Willian’s and is willing to sanction the new contract offer, and despite United willing to offer as much as £60m for the former Corinthians and Shakhtar Donestsk star, the Stamford Bridge club will block any attempt by Mourinho to try and take one of their best players with him to Manchester.

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