Chelsea bid confirmed

Shakhtar Donetsk have confirmed that Chelsea have made a bid to sign their Brazilian attacking midfielder Willian this January.

The Brazil international joined the Ukrainian side from Corinthians back in 2007 for a fee of around £12 million, and has steadily progressed with excellent performances domestically and in the Champions League.

The eastern European outfit’s CEO has admitted that Andre Villas Boas’ men have made an offer for the South American, which was refused.

“We have received a bid from Chelsea for Willian valued at €20million (£16.7m), but he is not for sale,” Sergei Palkin told Sky Sports.

Willian would fit into Villas Boas’ ideal transfer target criteria as a young, exciting prospect, but Skakhtar seem unwilling to sell their star man.

Sky Sports do indicate however that the Ukrainian side value Willian at £29million, considerable more than what the Premier League side offered.

As yet there has been no indication into whether Chelsea will make another attempt to bring the playmaker to Stamford Bridge.

By Gareth McKnight