Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has pleaded with the club's hierarchy to offer Willian a new contract at Stamford Bridge.
The 31-year-old winger's current deal expires at the end of the season and he is rumoured to be a target for the likes of Juventus and Barcelona who, as it stands, will be able to discuss a contract with Willian in January.
However, speaking after Chelsea's 2-0 win over Crystal Palace (via Goal), Lampard made no secret of just how much he wants Willian to stay at the club, but he accepted that the situation is out of his hands.
"The word isn’t 'no-brainer' because I can’t get involved in the money," Lampard confessed. "That’s up to the club to do. But everyone sees how much I’m relying on him, and picking him and in what he is producing, I love him at this football club. So there’s my answer.
""I know his qualities from playing with him but when I looked at Willy over the last couple of years, he was in and out of the team. You’re not sure, from the outside, I want to see him happy. Willy is a happy, easy-going lad who loves his football and that was the first thing I said to him at the start of the season."
The winger, who has often attracted plenty of criticism from fans in recent seasons, has been hugely impressive since Lampard's arrival. He has managed three goals and three assists in all competitions, but his creativity and work rate have been vital to the young Blues this season.
"I saw him being huge in the way I wanted to play," Lampard insisted. "Naturally, on the ball, we all know his ability to go by, one-on-one, and shift people and cross or get shots away.
"But his off-the-ball work is an outstanding example for Callum Hudson-Odoi, for Christian Pulisic, for other young players who think the only part of the game is going by people, crossing or shooting.
"He certainly has the Brazilian flair in terms of his touch and his feet but I know what you mean. His burst of pace away from people is somewhat Brazilian in some players but the selfless side of his game is always a starting point for me.
"As we worked as a staff here, it was about how good we could be off the ball. Then think about on the ball afterwards. For someone who is showing that example up the pitch, it reflects everywhere. He does the other side brilliantly with absolute humility. He’s been a joy and one of the experienced players who is helping the young boys."
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Source : 90min