Chelsea boss Frank Lampard says it is not set in stone that Willian will leave Stamford Bridge this summer and talks over his future are “an ongoing conversation”.
Willian lifted the lid on his future earlier this week when giving an interview to Brazilian TV channel Esporte Interativo.
The winger, whose contract expires in the summer, revealed he wants to sign a new three-year deal at Chelsea but they've only offered him fresh terms over two years.
Willian confessed the situation was “difficult” and consequently admitted he didn't know if it would be possible for him to stay at Chelsea.
Lampard, however, has revealed talks are not dead with the 31-year-old and he could yet sign a new deal.
“It's an ongoing conversation,” he said.
“Maybe [Willian talking now] was not ideal timing but I get asked every three days here, players get asked after games and it's not always easy for them. People want some form of answer.
“Conversations are ongoing but at the minute I don't want to get too drawn into it because I am the manager of the team and don't want to look too far down towards the summer.
“It's why some of the headlines this week had a slight sense of frustration for me because we are working day-to-day to finish the job this season and we are not jumping ahead to the summer.
“But Willy's one is an ongoing situation. It's not over. We'll see.”
Dedademr
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I know all y'all Chelsea fans. If he is given the three year contract and he fails to live up to it, you will be the one castigating Lampard as if he is the one offering him the contract. Two years is okay with the option of another year based on his performance. If he doesn't perform well, we will know that the two years are on us, if he performs well then the option of one years is activated. You people have forgotten that the relationship between a player and a club should be a symbiotic one. Willian is looking out for his own interest, shouldn't Chelsea look out for it's own? With this kind of age, it is an exceptional player that you give that kind of contract. If clubs say they want to give Ronaldo or Messi a four-year contract, nobody will bat an eyelid cos they are exceptional. Two years and an option of a year is okay for Willian.