Liverpool transfer report: Premier League leaders eye move for Willian on a free from Chelsea

The Brazilian forward's current deal at Chelsea is set to expire in the summer and the Londoners are said to have offered him an extension of two years - but the player is holding out for three.

Willian, who turns 32 in August, could therefore leave Stamford Bridge after seven years and he is not short of suitors - with Barcelona said to be among those interested.

Arsenal and Tottenham have also been linked. The latter, you would think, is unlikely due to the sour relations formed in 2013 after Willian had a medical with Spurs before snubbing them for Chelsea.

The Gunners, however, are at the start of a new project at the Emirates under Mikel Arteta and a move would see him and his family be able to stay put in London. But the lure of playing with Jurgen Klopp and, by then you would think, the impressive league champions may be too good to resist.

Reports in Spain suggest it is Klopp's side who have made a 'favourable' offer to the versatile attacker's representatives. With Chelsea eyeing a potential swoop for Barcelona ace Philippe Coutinho, whenever the transfer window might be, Sport claim that Liverpool have started talks with Willian's camp.

The stats: How Willian compares ...a step up for Liverpool?

Willian would arguably be brought in for competition rather than displacing one of Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino or Mo Salah, so it makes sense to compare him with a player already doing that at Anfield.

Divock Origi is only just 25, compared to the Brazilain who is nearly 32, and the Belgian has become popular with Reds fans due to his tendency to score goals in big games, but just how do his stats compare to Willian this season?

See below...

He recently opened the door to interest from English clubs, revealing how negotiations have broke down with Frank Lampard's side.

“Everyone knows that my contract ends now in a few months, so the renewal is really a difficult thing to happen," Willian, currently in South America with his family during the coronavirus pandemic, told Expediente Futebol.

“I think it will be very difficult for me to renew because Chelsea offered me two years, I asked for three and it ended there.

“We didn’t talk anymore, we didn’t negotiate anymore.

“My desire is to stay in the Premier League, but I don’t rule out playing in other leagues."

Willian, however, insists he will not let his future affect the rest of his campaign, later telling AP: "I want to give everything for Chelsea until the end like I always did, until the end of my contract, until the end of the league.

"I have to discuss with the club to see what we are going to do. But for me, from my side, I have no problem to play until the end of the season."

Would Liverpool be willing to offer a player of his age a three-year contract? Unlikely, which means he would probably command a hefty signing on fee or higher weekly wages - and the publication says the Merseysiders are offering 'very favourable conditions'.

Willian, who scored against the Reds in the FA Cup last month, would undoubtedly add quality and more strength in depth to the Champions League holders' squad.

He has made 37 outings so far this season and made a total of 329 appearances for the Blues, scoring 59 goes and assisting a further 59, since joining from Shakhtar Donetsk.

Mircea Lucescu, Willian’s former boss at Shakhtar, has recently said he should depart, telling TuttoJuve: “He has been at Chelsea for many years and perhaps it is time for a change."

But, despite his age, he would arguably be seen as an upgrade on Xherdan Shaqiri, Adam Lallana and Divock Origi.

The Reds have also been heavily linked with forward Timo Werner, whose £52million release clause at RB Leipzig expires on June 15. The Germany international, who nearly joined Bayern last summer and was strongly linked with a move to Anfield in January, would reportedly be willing to sign for Liverpool after talking up a move earlier this year - even describing Klopp as 'the best coach in the world'.

Sky Sports, however, claim Liverpool are unlikely to swoop before that date.

• If Willian does depart Chelsea, then Frank Lampard could face a problem with a number of high-profile names set to leave the club on June 30 - Joe Townsend looks at how that could tie in with the potential resumption of the Premier League campaign and why both Chelsea and Tottenham have reasons to be concerned...

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