Chelsea: Stepping back to evaluate the Willian situation

The Chelsea fanbase has changed its opinion on a new deal for Willian due to his recent performances, but let’s take a look at the situation as a whole.

Just one short year ago, a majority of Chelsea fans couldn’t wait for the club to offload the Brazilian. He’s been a fantastic ambassador for the club over the years, but he seemed to have lost it. However, since Frank Lampard took over as the manager of the Blues, Willian has been revitalized. He’s been one of the Blues’ best players throughout the season and aside from Christian Pulisic, the Brazilian may be the Blues’ top player at the moment, as well.

Few knew whether or not he’d make it to this moment. Willian’s contract was set to expire on June 30 and after taking negotiations down to the wire with the club, he agreed to extend until the end of July. Further discussions now loom as August will be here before we know it. Willian wants a three-year deal, but should the club give it to him?

To answer the question in the most extensive and knowledgeable fashion, one must dig deep and micro-analyze the situation. The analysis is three-fold and it includes looking at talks through the lenses of all three involved parties: the player, the gaffer and the club.

Willian has made is clear he wants to remain a Chelsea player. His demands are strict and after everything he’s done for the club, they can afford to be. After snubbing Tottenham in 2013, Willian joined the Blues and has been a faithful servant for Chelsea ever since. He’s continued to put the club over his views or those of his manager—even if it gets him in trouble from time to time. The 31-year-old has even turned down Barcelona on multiple occasions to stay with the club he truly cares about.

Throughout the season, he’s made it a point to state that he’d love nothing more than to play with the Blues for years to come. Three years, to be specific. His latest extension with the club revealed to the footballing world just how much Chelsea means to Willian. If you’re still not convinced, take a look at the Brazilian winger on the pitch. He continues to give 110 percent, week in and week out. Playing for a London rival—like Spurs or Arsenal—would surely pain the veteran, but it’s a choice he may be forced to make.

From the perspective of a managerial staff, that is the last thing you want to see. Willian still has a lot to offer the Premier League and watching him do his thing in navy blue and white or red and white would add any insult to injury; London derby or not. Lampard and his coaches would lose a veteran presence in an otherwise young dressing room. Seeing as Pedro’s exit has already been confirmed and Jorginho’s all but, Willian’s departure would leave a void in leadership—especially for the wingers in the squad.

Willian is enjoying his best season for Chelsea this year with 11 goals and seven assists. He’s continued to be a vital piece in any manager’s plan and there’s a reason for it, despite what fans may tell you. Willian is a talented player—albeit not always as flashy as his former counterpart Eden Hazard or even Pulisic. Ask the 20 managers in the Premier League if they’d take Willian in their side, an overwhelming majority—if not all—would say yes. Allowing a player of that pedigree to leave would be borderline idiotic.

Finally, let’s view the situation from behind the glass office windows of Roman Abramovich’s trusted associates. Chelsea has implemented a controversial policy for players over 30 years of age in recent times. David Luiz broke that mold last season, signing a two-year deal before his eventual exit. That set the precedent for the club’s offer to Willian this year.

For aforementioned reasons, Chelsea would be imprudent to let Willian walk just because of his age. Lampard and Chelsea Technical Director Petr Cech can both attest to the fact that great players have a lot left in the tank beyond age 30. The club legends now need to do their due diligence and inform the board of that.

The two sides—Willian and the club—are one-year apart in their negotiations and to not find common ground in discussions would be foolish at this point. If anything, signing the 31-year-old to a three-year contract presents better options for Chelsea going forward. As opposed to letting him walk for free in two years, the club could send Willian on his way to a preferred destination and receive financial compensation for it. That is, if the Brazilian isn’t terrorizing opposing keepers in two years’ time.

At the end of the day, re-signing Willian to a three-year deal makes sense for all involved parties. He’s more than earned the backing of the board and his coaching staff over the years, that’s evident in the present. Although the board views the Willian talks on the same level of those with Luiz last season, the difference between the two is night and day. Nobody batted an eye when Luiz made the switch to Arsenal; the same wouldn’t be said for his Brazilian counterpart.

Enough is enough, Chelsea board. It’s time to do away with the archaic 30-and-over policy in favor of a modern evaluation formula. Willian brings a lot to Lampard’s side and someone with an unbreakable love for the club deserves the chance to fight until he’s got nothing left to give.