Chelsea: Willian and Pedro short-term extensions are a wonderful thing
Willian and Pedro, despite earlier reports, have signed short-term extensions with Chelsea to see out the rest of the season at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea took negotiations down to the wire with its experienced wingers as the Blues announce short-term extensions for both Willian and Pedro. The Premier League claimed decisions needed to be made by July 23, with both players’ deals expiring in a week’s time. Now, Willian and Pedro will see the season out in west London.
It was important that Chelsea get at least one of these deals done—preferably Willian—due to the increased role each will have during this month of stacked fixtures. Injuries and the lack of match fitness have limited Frank Lampard’s options out wide, so having an experienced duo who can be called upon is an important thing.
Callum Hudson-Odoi suffered a knock before the Aston Villa game and has been unavailable in matches since. This injury saw Lampard start Ruben Loftus-Cheek for the first time in 13 months at Villa Park. Loftus-Cheek is still working his way up to match fitness whereas Willian shined on the right wing in the match. Willian’s importance was highlighted against Villa and since then, the Blues have needed to get the deal done.
On the other hand, Pedro simply provides security for Chelsea. Instead of playing someone like Loftus-Cheek or Mason Mount out on the wing, Lampard can call on Pedro, which would allow others to stay put in their natural positions. Chelsea still has three matches left against bottom five sides in the Premier League, so having Pedro available offers Lampard the opportunity to rest players like Christian Pulisic for big matches.
One important thing to remember about these deals is that the extensions mean nothing for the long-term. It’s probable Willian and Pedro will play their last matches in Chelsea blue come the end of the season. However, it was vital for the Blues to secure their signatures for the sake of depth during this fixture-heavy summer.
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On a completely separate note, there is something to be said here about the characters of both men. Neither Willian nor Pedro was obligated to sign these deals and few would’ve blamed them for refusing. A round of applause is in order as both put their individual interests on hold in favor of the club’s well-being.