WILLIAN has vowed to stay loyal to Chelsea amid the coronavirus outbreak.
The Brazilian’s Stamford Bridge contract expires on June 30 but he has assured Blues fans he will remain committed to the cause until the season has finished.
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The 31-year-old is one of three high profile Chelsea stars whose contract looks likely to expire before this campaign has reached its conclusion.
Olivier Giroud and Pedro both have deals which finish on the last day of June.
But despite reports linking him with Tottenham and Arsenal, Willian is keen to repay the loyalty Chelsea have shown him since he signed in 2013.
Speaking to Brazilian TV channel Esporte Interativo on a live Facebook chat, he said: “My contract really ends I think in July.
“And if I had to play on those dates, in these months, I think it would be no problem for me to end the league in a way which would be loyal to the club, as they always were with me.
“Regardless of a signed paper.
“But it’s clear that this is not a certainty, we don’t know what can happen.
“But without a doubt, as always, I will always be ready to give the best to my club regardless of my contract situation.”
In a bid to combat such a situation, football authorities like the FA, Premier League, EFL and PFA are expected to be flexible and allow temporary deals in order to complete the season, according to the Telegraph.
It quotes one Football League official who said: “It’s pretty easy for all the football authorities to get together and agree that clubs can give players temporary contracts to take them to the end of any extended season, should that happen.
“The transfer windows and things can also be altered accordingly.
“But it will be a scary time for many players towards the bottom end who have mortgages to pay and will have decisions about their livelihood and futures delayed until clubs get clarity over when football might be played again and the real financial impact.”
While this approach may offer security to those at the top of the football pyramid, clubs further down the ladder are unlikely to offer any new contracts while their financial future remains so unstable.
At Chelsea, Willy Caballero also has a deal that expires on June 30.
Manchester United have acted swiftly to extend Nemanja Matic’s deal beyond the end of this season.
But July 1 will see Tottenham’s Jan Vertonghen and Newcastle’s Andy Carroll out of contract.
That date also sees Watford trio Ben Foster, Herurelho Gomes and Adrian Mariappa become free agents.
As well as Ryan Fraser and Simon Francis at Bournemouth, Southampton striker Shane Long and Burnley players Ashley Westwood, Jeff Hendrick and Aaron Lennon.
