The Brazilian midfielder Willian is set to leave Chelsea and join La Liga champions Barcelona.
Catalonian outlet Sport have reported that the Blaugrana midfielder Philippe Coutinho has been trying to convince him to make the switch from London while the pair were on assignment together in Russia with the Brazilian national team for the World Cup last month.
The former Liverpool man Coutinho looks to have helped out his international teammate toward a move to Barcelona in another way, too.
He’s just received his E.U passport - through the Portuguese nationhood of his wife - meaning that he will count as a “homegrown” player in the squad and another non-E.U spot has opened up.
The Catalan giants look to have truly set their sights on the 29-year-old wideman, having had bids of £50M and £60 already turned down this summer, according to reports.
They now look set to seal a deal to bring in the former Shakhtar Donetsk star to join his pal Coutinho in the sunny climes of southern Spain.
His Chelsea teammate Eden Hazard is a reported target for Barcelona, too, if reports in the Spanish press are to believed. They’ll have to enter into a battle with eternal rivals Real Madrid for the Belgians scrawl.
The new Blues manager Maurizio Sarri, who is with his new squad in Australia on a pre-season tour, looks to have a considerable job on his hands to keep his squad together remotely with the World Cup away on breaks following their exertions and not close to hand.
