‘My goal is to play for a bigger club in a high level league.’ Willian

The report claims a number of English clubs were interested in signing the 24-year-old in the summer but it was Chelsea who were understood to be leading the chase.

Willian has now confirmed in the Mail that the European champions submitted a £20.3 million bid for him and he was desperate to leave for Stamford Bridge, but Shakhtar blocked the move. The Brazil international has reiterated his desire to leave the Ukrainian champions for what he calls a ‘bigger club’, and claims the president is willing to give him his wish if an offer of £24.4 million comes in.

‘My goal is to play for a bigger club in a high level league.’ Willian said.

‘If I tell you that I was happy, I would be lying. My desire was there, with a £20.3million offer from a big club like Chelsea. I wanted to pack my things and go, but I can’t do that as I am under contract.

‘It shows how much Shakhtar like me and shows that I am doing a good job, which is why they wanted me to stay.

‘I have tried to convince them many times to let me go. I know that Juventus and Chelsea have made offers to buy me and that motivates me a lot.

‘The club know that I want to leave, everyone knows that. The president has told me that he’ll let me go for £24.4m and my intention is to sign for a big club.’

Willian is quoted as saying in the Daily Mail:

Willian is a talented lad, as Chelsea found out to their detriment in the Champions League this season, but do the Blues still need him? They signed Eden Hazard, Victor Moses, Marko Marin and Oscar in the summer – all attack-minded players – so is there still a place for the Shakhtar ace in the team?