Tottenham won’t need to pay a transfer fee to sign Willian this summer, but the wages he’ll demand could make it a very bad deal for Spurs.
Willian has quietly been one of Frank Lampard‘s most effective players at Chelsea this season. That’s a big reason why Tottenham want to steal him away via a free transfer this summer. However, Spurs should be wary of how the talented Brazilian will age during his next contract.
Duncan Castles recently revealed via his Transfer Window Podcast that Spurs are willing to offer Willian a three-year contract to pry him away from Chelsea this summer. The first two years of the deal would be fully guaranteed while the third would depend on a variety of performance metrics. Per Castles, Willian and his representatives are satisfied with the “shape” of the deal.
If Jose Mourinho could be certain he’d get the Willian who’s starred for Chelsea this season then the deal would be a stroke of genius for Spurs. Unfortunately, Willian will be 32-year-old next season. That means that Tottenham could be paying for his services until he enters his mid-30s.
It could easily turn into really bad business for a Tottenham side that doesn’t figure to have massive money to spend this summer. Willian won’t require a transfer fee, but it’s safe to assume he’ll want to be compensated as one of Spurs’ top earners. That could turn into a massive overpay very quickly for a player of his age.
Admittedly, Willian is not a player who relies heavily on athleticism to make a positive impact in Premier League matches. He does work hard for his side, but his value largely comes from his skill on the ball. Spurs could absolutely benefit from a player capable of unlocking defences in their attacking midfield.
Interestingly, William might play more centrally for Mourinho than he ever has for Chelsea. Tottenham lost Christian Eriksen this winter and have struggled to replace him in the heart of their midfield. Spurs want to build their future side around Giovani Lo Celso, but it might be a bit too soon for him to shoulder the No. 10 position all by himself.
That’s why Mourinho wants Willian. He’s just the sort of versatile attacker who can plug a number of holes in his current squad. The trick for the Portuguese manager is to make sure he doesn’t become overly infatuated with the player Willian has been in recent seasons. Doing so could easily cause him to overpay for his services this summer.