How Arsenal flop Willian could be set for shock Premier League return
Daniel Edwards
- Updated: 10 Aug 2022 23:57 BST
- 3 min read
Former Arsenal and Chelsea man Willian could be in line for a surprise Premier League comeback.
Willian, 34, secured a return to his boyhood club Corinthians in August 2021, following eight years in England's top flight with the two London clubs.
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Few at Arsenal were sad to see the back of the midfielder following an underwhelming 2020-21 season and his time in Sao Paulo was also doomed to failure, marked by injuries and general under-achievement by the team as a whole.
Tuesday's 1-0 defeat to Flamengo sealed their elimination from the Copa Libertadores at the quarter-final stage, having also gone down 2-0 in the first leg.
Despite occupying second place in Serie A Corinthians are on the brink of crisis, with Portuguese coach Vitor Pereira close to dismissal after reportedly losing the confidence of the dressing room.
And they will have to make up the six-point deficit behind leaders Palmeiras without Willian, who announced on Wednesday that he would not continue at the club.
"My arms are open to receive whatever comes my way," said the player, who according to Globo has agreed terms with Corinthians to rescind his contract with immediate effect.
Willian Premier League-bound?
The Brazilian media giant additionally maintains that Fulham are in pole position to sign the star, whose last Brazil cap came following the Selecao's Copa America victory in 2019.
The Premier League new boys kicked off their campaign in thrilling fashion by pushing Liverpool to the verge of a stunning upset before being held 2-2, but a player of Willian's quality and experience would be more than welcome to strengthen their squad for the coming season.
"[The chance of Willian leaving] is there, it is there," Corinthians president Duilio Monteiro Alves signalled to reporters in the wake of Tuesday's Copa elimination.
"That is why I don't want to say anymore, we will wait a bit longer for that conversation after today's big game."
Willian played a total of 376 games in England for Arsenal and Chelsea, scoring 64 goals and lifting the Premier League on two occasions as a Blue.
