Darren Bent says he cannot understand why Chelsea are dragging their heels over offering Willian a three-year contract.
The winger is out of contract at Stamford Bridge this summer and will leave on a free transfer if a new deal cannot be agreed.
Willian has previously revealed he would like a three-year contract whilst the Blues have so far only offered him a two-year deal.
Following Willian's good form at the end of the season, Bent told talkSPORT that it would be strange for Chelsea to let him go elsewhere.
He said: "What is the issue with the contract?
"If it's about years, which is what I'm hearing, I'd give him the three years.
"You'd like to think Spurs are going to be in for him due to the whole Mourinho factor and Arsenal are in for him.
"Wherever he goes, he's going to make them stronger.
"Why would you want one of your best players, who's playing very well at the minute and doesn't look like he's slowing down, to go and play for your rivals?
"I'd give him the three years."
He added: "If it's wages then that's a different story.
"If it's all about years, someone told me he wanted three years and they were only willing to give him two.
"For me, I'd just give him three as he's playing as well as anybody right now.
"Why would you want him to walk out the door for nothing and go and make your rivals stronger?
"I don't understand that."
Former Spurs striker Bent said he would not be surprised if Arsenal were keen to sign Willian.
Yet, due to the likes of Gabriel Martinelli coming through at the Gunners, Bent feels the Brazilian winger would be more suited to a move to Spurs.
He said: "You look at Arsenal's front line, you've got Martinelli, Aubameyang, Lacazette, Nketiah, there's quite a few there.
"For them to bring in a 31-year-old, give him a three-year contract, it's a funny situation and he might not suit Arsenal, to be fair.
"He might not get as much game time as well as stunting the growth of someone like Martinelli.
"As far as Spurs, he'd suit right in there, as their right-hand side has been a problem.
"They've Bergwijn and Moura out there and it's not quite worked but if you now go Willian, Harry Kane and Heung-Min Song, that changes the whole dynamics of the front three going forward."
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