Barcelona have added Willian to their list of January transfer targets, with a deal for Liverpool’s Philippe Coutinho looking unlikely.
The Brazilian ace is unhappy at his lack of playing time at Stamford Bridge this season – making just as many appearances from the bench as he has from the off in the Premier League.
Former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is keen to bring him to Manchester United in order to offer him more first-team football, but the Red Devils face serious competition to bring him to Old Trafford.
Barcelona are desperate to add to their squad in January to continue their attempts to replace Neymar, who joined Paris Saint-Germain in the summer, and Willian has emerged as a target, should a move for Coutinho be too difficult to pull off, according to Goal.
The Brazilian duo share the same agent Giuliano Bertolucci – who also negotiated Paulinho’s move to Barcelona in the summer – and the Catalan giants could well do business with him again in the winter window.
When asked about Willian’s future, Conte insisted players have to be willing to be part of a squad at big clubs.
He said: ‘Why are you asking me about Willian and not [Eden] Hazard at the start of the season, or Pedro the same?
‘They have the same situation and every game I must make a decision. I repeat a player must be happy to stay at Chelsea, to play for Chelsea, to play for our fans.
‘They must be happy if they start the game or start on the bench and then come on, but I think I have clever players to understand and accept this situation.
‘I repeat Hazard at the start of the season he accept this situation to stay on the bench before finding the right form, the same with Pedro, the same with Willian.
‘When you are in a great team you have to accept this, at the same time you must be happy to stay in a great team.’
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