Here is your Chelsea morning digest for Saturday, April 11.
RB Leipzig stance on Werner
With rumours swirling around the future of attacker Timo Werner, RB Leipzig chief executive Oliver Mintzlaff has provided his view on the situation.
“I’m deeply relaxed about Werner,” Mintzlaff said to Sky Germany. “He hasn’t signalled yet that he wants to leave at the end of the season and he doesn’t have to. He has a contract until 2023.”
Werner has been sensational this season, scoring 27 goals in 37 games in all competitions. Only Robert Lewandowski has scored more Bundesliga goals this season, while Leipzig are in the Champions League quarter-finals and title race thanks to the German’s contributions.
Chelsea have been linked with a move for Werner as they look for a centre-forward solution, but it seems Leipzig will not be pressured into selling.
Willian update provided
Willian’s contract expires at the end of the season. After Chelsea rejected bids from Barcelona and Atletico Madrid in recent windows, his future is entirely up in the air.
Willian has run his contract down and there is an expectation that he will leave Stamford Bridge at the end of the year, but no decision has yet been made, according to his agent Kia Joorabchian.
“There is a lot of speculation but I can genuinely explain to you we have not spoken about transfers or anything like that," he told Sky Sports. “No one has the right feeling.”
“Neither us nor the other side have the feeling to discuss something when so much is happening around the world that is so much more important."
Merson opens up on Willian
In a rather curious turn of events, Paul Merson has criticised Willian for avoiding stick from Chelsea fans as he is allegedly fortunate to run down his contract.
“Willian is very fortunate,” the ex-Arsenal man told Sky Sports. “Don’t get me wrong, he’s a brilliant player and I still think he’s one of Chelsea’s best players, there’s no question about that whatsoever, but I think he’s been fortunate in terms of getting away with the contract situation this season.
“He’s let his contract run down and no-one has said a dicky-bird about it. We’ve seen so many players get plenty of stick over running down their contract and leaving on a free. Normally everybody goes mad but with Willian, because he’s played so well, it’s gone under the radar.
“He’s got no stick off the fans whatsoever, and you’ve only got to look at the Christian Eriksen situation at Tottenham to know he’s been a bit fortunate with that."
