According to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, Arsenal are prepared to offer a three-year contract to Willian, who is likely to leave Chelsea on a free transfer this month.
The Brazil international has been a regular starter for the Blues over the past seven years where he has registered 63 goals and 62 assists from 333 appearances.
His current deal concludes following the Blues’ Champions League campaign and so far, he has declined an extension as the hierarchy are reluctant to meet his demand for a three-year deal.
Hence, he appears set to part ways with the Blues in the coming days and Ornstein reports that the Gunners and an unnamed club are leading the race to sign the 31-year-old.
While there are better offers on the table, it has been mentioned that the vision and desire of manager Mikel Arteta and technical director Edu to bring him to the Gunners has impressed the attacker.
Willian, who is currently on £120,000-a-week at Stamford Bridge, missed the recent FA Cup final defeat to the Gunners with an unmentioned injury.
The same problem is expected to keep him out of the second leg of the Champions League round of 16 tie against Bayern Munich on the road.
Hence, it appears only a matter of time before Willian makes a decision on his future and a move across London appears likely to happen.
Arteta is keen on adding more experience to the first-team squad and Willian is said to be one of the prime targets alongside Philippe Coutinho and Thomas Partey.
Despite his advancing age, Willian has been a quality performer and he is currently enjoying his best-ever return with 11 goals and nine assists.
He may not be a regular starter for the Gunners next term but could provide a creative outlet off the bench. Elsewhere, he has the tendency to fare well in the big games and that is a quality which should have caught Arteta’s eye.
