Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

I will hold no grudge, says Chelsea manager Frank Lampard as Willian considers Arsenal move

Willian is on the verge of joining Chelsea's London rivals Arsenal on a three-year deal

Shrivathsa Sridhar
Saturday 08 August 2020 10:10 BST
Comments
New Premier League season to return from September 12

Chelsea manager Frank Lampard said he is unsure if Brazilian winger Willian will remain at the English Premier League club next season but expects no bitterness from both parties if he does depart.

Willian is on the verge of joining Chelsea's London rivals Arsenal on a three-year deal after his current employers only offered him a two-year extension which left him disappointed.

The 31-year-old Willian's contract expires at the end of Chelsea's Champions League campaign. Lampard's side take on Bayern Munich in the last-16 second-leg on Saturday, a game Willian will miss due to an ankle injury.

"I haven't got an answer" about whether Willian will leave, "because Willian remains our player at the moment. It actually doesn't matter about disappointment from any party in this situation," Lampard told reporters.

"Certainly as a club we have done everything we can to explain to Willian, and mine and his relationship is close. I'd have no feeling of disappointment if he does move on.

"I've played with him, coached him, he's a fantastic man and a fantastic player. He'll feel like that about Chelsea... But I don't want anyone to try and find a negative attitude, because the club have acted very well in this as well."

Willian has scored 63 goals and provided 62 assists in 339 appearances for Chelsea since his arrival from Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala in 2013.

Reuters

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in