Chelsea Transfer News: Blues $26M Bid for Willian Reportedly Rejected

Chelsea are believed to have had a $26 million bid for Shaktar Donesk midfielder Willian rejected by the club as the Blues continue their interest in the 23-year-old.

Chelsea originally tried to bring Willian to Stamford Bridge over the January transfer window and, whilst they were unable to do so, they were reportedly told by Shakhtar Donetsk manager Mircea Lucescu in April that the player was "theirs" for the right price.

Now they are being told by Lucescu that the price for Willian is not high enough, according to Romanian TV station Dolce Sport (h/t Goal):

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"Willian was the biggest investment Shakhtar have made in a young player, we have to respect that. He played only seven or eight games in Brazil."

"They [Chelsea] paid a lot of money for [Eden] Hazard but are not willing to pay for Willian, even though he's better in my opinion..."

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The news comes as a bizarre twist in Chelsea's chase for Willian, as they would seemingly now have to offer upwards of $30 million to sign the midfielder—with no guarantees that he would even make the starting team at Stamford Bridge.

Back in April, the Daily Mail reported that Shakhtar Donesk were willing to sell Willian to the English Premier League should they receive enough money for him. The question now becomes as to how much Lucescu wants for the 23-year-old who, despite what he says, isn't better than Eden Hazard.

The manager was quoted by the Daily Mail as saying that:

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"They have to pay the price. They have to pay the price because we bring the players here at 17 or 18 years old. We pay a lot of money because they are talented players and we bring them up. I have 23 or 24 [players like that], not only Willian."

"If Chelsea pay his [asking price], I am not against letting my players play for the big clubs. If they pay the price, he can go. If not, he will remain here because he has another two-and-a-half years on his contract."

"It is not my problem. It is the problem of our club and Chelsea..."

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After having a bid of $26 million reportedly rejected, however, it seems that the "right price" might just be too high and too out of reach—even for Roman Abramovich.

The midfielder is no doubt talented and skilled—and could progress into one of the premiere talents in world football—but by no means is he there yet. And, by no means is he worth $30 million.

Not yet, anyway.

What should Chelsea do with Willian?

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