Fulham head coach Marco Silva has made keeping Brazilian winger Willian at Craven Cottage ‘a priority‘ ahead of the summer.

The 34 year-old former Chelsea and Arsenal wide man signed for the Whites on a short-term deal in September after cancelling his contract with Corinthians and has rolled back the years with consistently excellent displays that have made a regular as Fulham have thrived in the top flight. The Brazilian international, who told UOL yesterday that wants to end his career in England, has attracted the attention of major European sides since shining in SW6 but Silva was adamant that he wants to retain Willian’s services for next season.

The Fulham boss told his pre-match press conference before Monday’s meeting with Leicester City:

“I definitely want him to stay. He is a priority for us to renew. Of course he has been pleased with this season, like I have been with him, as we as a club have been with him. He has been an important part of our squad and I know that he is pleased and happy here.

He feels really good. He knows that he has helped us but at the same time we have helped him to be at his best level again and enjoy football again and to be an important part of the squad like he has been. He has been fantastic, he has been brilliant for us this season. It has been so, so good to see him perform at his level, home or away it does not matter.

Sometimes like in the last match against Liverpool he did not have the ball so much, but the way he has an impact on some moments of the match, creating some dangerous moments, one of our biggest chances for us, on the counter-attack. He is a top player, a class player. We are pleased to have him with us. Every single day he works so hard to perform at that level and it is really important in every match to have him at his best level because we are stronger with him.”

The wily winger has scored three goals – and made four more – in 26 appearances since signing for Fulham.