Arsenal leapfrog Liverpool in race for Chelsea ace

Arsenal have moved ahead of Liverpool in the race to sign Brazilian attacker Willian from Chelsea, reports ESPN via The Metro. 

Willian is out of contract at Stamford Bridge this summer and with the Blues not prepared to offer him anything longer than a 12-month extension, the 31-year-old is set to leave the west London side. 

Liverpool were believed to be fronting the queue of potential suitors, but Arsenal are now believed to have leapfrogged the Reds for Willian. 

The player himself is settled in London and is hoping to continue to ply his trade in the capital and it means that Arsenal have emerged as a possible destination for the Brazil international. 

And according to ESPN's Jorge Nicola, Willian's representatives now view the Gunners as the most viable destination for their client. 

"Arsenal are a little ahead today, but everything is still open," said Nicola.  

"Especially because the pandemic affected the entire financial reality of football in the world." 

Willian's friendship with David Luiz, who swapped Chelsea for Arsenal last summer, could prove a deciding factor for the former, with Arsenal willing to offer the former Shakhtar man a longer deal than Chelsea.