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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Darren Wells

Willian and Pedro agree to extend Chelsea contracts until the end of the season

Willian and Pedro have agreed to extend their Chelsea contracts until the end of the season despite refusing to pen new long-term deals.

Both players are set to leave Stamford Bridge this summer with their contracts due to expire next week on June 30.

However they will sign short-term extensions in order to help play a part in Chelsea's domestic season run-in, reports The Sun.

Neither player can join a new team until the transfer window reopens and both will be risking injury by playing for Chelsea if selected.

Pedro has already agreed terms on a move to Roma where he will sign a two-year contract, while Willian's future remains up in the air.

Pedro and Willian have agreed extensions to stay at Chelsea till the season has ended (Getty Images)

The duo will both depart before August though, meaning they will not stay on for the Champions League mini-tournament.

Chelsea are unlikely to reach that stage anyway, given they are already 3-0 down from the first leg to Bayern Munich and still have to travel to Germany for the return fixture.

The Blues are still on course for a top four finish though, and could even end the season with some silverware as they prepare for their FA Cup quarter-final with Leicester on Sunday.

Willian was keen on staying at Chelsea beyond the end of the campaign but the club were only willing to offer him a two-year deal.

The Brazilian forward turns 32 in August, but had still been pressing for an extra year to tie him down until 2023.

Tottenham have been linked with a move for his services, and Willian has previously expressed his love of living in London, making a potential reunion with former boss Jose Mourinho a feasible prospect.

Meanwhile Emerson Palmieri looks set to return to Serie A this summer, with Juventus and Inter Milan both monitoring his situation.

Blues boss Frank Lampard has been urged to follow up the signing of Timo Werner by replacing Palmieri with Leicester full-back Ben Chilwell.

Former Chelsea star Joe Cole told BT Sport: “Similar to Werner, he [Chilwell] fits the ethos – he is young, he’s hungry, he’s explosive and athletic.

"I think he’s got a lot of talent, if he comes to Chelsea, working with the group there – in Brendan [Rodgers] he’s got a great manager and a great team up at Leicester. But Chelsea’s a step up from Leicester."

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