Marco Silva says he will do everything he can to keep Brazilian veteran Willian at Fulham for at least another season.
The evergreen winger, now 35, is out of contract this summer and has been quoted in the past week saying that he would consider a move to pastures new, either in Europe or in Saudi Arabia, from where he had a lucrative offer last year. But Silva is desperate to keep him at Craven Cottage, where he has shone since arriving on a free transfer from Corinthians in September 2022.
“Last season he had an offer from either Saudi or Dubai, we know that. It is up to him to decide what is best for his future and his family. From my side I am going to do my maximum to keep him with us. I have many conversations with Willian about everything, not just his contract.
He is a special player, I have a strong relationship with him, a special one. Everything is so clear between me and him. The player wants to wait until the end of the season.”
Willian has scored ten goals, and made seven more, in 64 appearances for the Whites.
I would really like to keep him at Craven Cottage. There’s little or nothing not to like. Consummate professional in everything he does and seemingly a well liked and respected by everyone, manager, team mates and supporters. There are many in the game who should follow his example, particularly one or two the other side of the Broadway.Wouldn’t blame him if he followed that final big fat pay check though.
Spot on, David. The fun fantasy question, though, is if he did go, who would we like to see come in to try to fill those special boots?
Hmm, a tricky one. That’ll need a lot of thought and, were I to come up with passable replacement, I wonder if we could afford them? de Bruyner , Cole Palmer or at worst get Frank Lampard out of retirement, same age group:))