Chelsea step up Willian interest after Hulk setback

 
Willian of FC Shakhtar
Simon Johnson17 July 2012

Chelsea have resurrected their interest in Shakhtar Donetsk winger Willian after growing frustrated in their negotiations with Porto for Hulk.

The club had a £16.7million offer for Willian rejected during the January transfer window and their interest appeared to have cooled as they made a move for Porto forward Hulk.

Chelsea are prepared to pay £30m for the 25-year-old, who is part of Brazil’s Olympics squad, but Porto are demanding closer to £40m.

Talks have stalled so Chelsea are looking at Willian once again and he will fulfil the same role as Hulk on the right flank. Willian helped Shakhtar win the ‘Double’ in Ukraine last season and sources in Brazil suggest the two clubs are close to agreeing a fee.

Shakhtar wanted £29m for his signature back in January but are believed to be prepared to accept an offer in the region of £21m.

Chelsea’s interest in Brazil’s best young talent is also set to see the arrival of Internacional midfielder Oscar to Stamford Bridge.

Standard Sport first revealed last week that Chelsea had a £15.8m offer rejected for the 20-year-old but negotiations have been ongoing.

Internacional president Giovanni Luigi has confirmed the two clubs are close to agreeing a fee but he wants a Brazilian transfer record fee for Oscar.

Internacional are looking for around £25m — £3.5m more than Real Betis paid Sao Paolo for Denilson in 1998 — and Luigi said: “I want the transfer of Oscar to be the biggest deal ever in Brazilian football and the Chelsea offer isn’t that far from that.

“Last year Tottenham made two offers for Leandro Damiao. We kept him and he was very important.

“Oscar’s situation is similar. I’m part of an administration that has always been competent to replace those players that leave. If we get offers for Oscar that match our expectations, we’ll negotiate.”

Oscar is also in Brazil’s Olympics squad and it may take until after their involvement in the event ends on August 11 for the deal to be finalised.

Meanwhile, Florent Malouda’s wage demands appear to be pricing him out of a move from Chelsea to the Brazilian League.

Standard Sport revealed last month that Chelsea are prepared to sell Malouda and that the Frenchman preferred a switch to Brazil. Santos coach Muricy Ramalho said: “He was offered to us but when you think about his wages, it’s hard.”

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