Willian Hints at Chelsea Stay Amid Manchester United Links, Exit Rumours

Willian has hinted he will be at Chelsea next season despite ongoing rumours he could depart the west London club. 

According to Darren Lewis in the Mirror, Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho "is one of several managers across Europe keen" on the Brazilian playmaker, but Willian has talked about his ambitions for the Blues next season, an indication he will not be going anywhere:

"I like to play for Chelsea. On the pitch I want to do my best always to fight until the last minute. To do my best for this club. To continue to win titles because this club deserves always to win titles. I think we have to continue to improve for next season. To improve ourselves. To think about what we did well, what we did not so well and to try to make something different next season."

He added he is living his dream playing for Chelsea, and his family are settled in London, per Anthony Hay of MailOnline: "I like the Premier League. I like Chelsea. My dream was to come here to play for Chelsea so it's a dream come true. For me the Premier League is the best league in the world. And London is a great city. My family love to live here. After Brazil, London is my favourite city. I love to live here."

Willian, 29, joined Chelsea from Russian outfit Anzhi Makhachkala in 2013.

He has won two Premier League titles with the club and was also voted Chelsea's player of the season for 2015-16, when the Blues finished 10th as defending champions.

He is enjoying a similarly fine 2017-18 campaign, again as part of a struggling side.

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Antonio Conte's side won the Premier League by seven points last term, but they are 27 points back from champions-elect Manchester City and look set to miss out on UEFA Champions League football next season.

Their likely absence from Europe's premier club competition next term could lead to an exodus of the club's key players—Eden Hazard has been heavily linked with a switch to Real Madrid, per Simon Johnson in the Evening Standard.

Brazil international Willian is likely to be among the most attractive of Chelsea's stars for top European clubs, and he could become an even more desirable target should he impress at this summer's FIFA World Cup.

However, the former Shakhtar Donetsk man will have offered encouragement to the Chelsea hierarchy by expressing his ambition to stay at the club and help them improve next term.