Jose Mourinho confirms Spurs target Willian wants to move to Chelsea - Belfast Telegraph

 

The Anzhi Makhachkala star was close to a move to Tottenham having already passed a medical with the north London club ahead of a £30m move, but a late bid from Chelsea last night – said to be worth £32m – saw Mourinho attempt to hijack the deal and bring the 25-year-old to Stamford Bridge.

Speaking earlier today, Mourinho confirmed that the deal was close to being completed once a medical had been carried out.

"I think he's already made his decision," Mourinho admitted. He followed the comment by nodding in the affirmative when asked if that was a move to Chelsea.

He added: "I don't like to speak before time because football can be crazy. I know what the player wants, so in this moment we cannot hide. That is a possibility."

The late bid is said to have incensed Spurs chairman Daniel Levy, who is now believed to have put Gareth Bale's move to Real Madrid on hold until they complete the signing of a replacement.

Mourinho wanted to stress the importance though of not confirming the deal before a medical is carried out.

"That's the danger of medicals before contracts," said Mourinho.

"You have to do the medical before, but the best thing to do is to do the medical in secret.

"If the player is fine, you can sign him. If the player is not fine you don't destroy his career."

Mourinho still intends to make a third offer for Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney despite moving to sign Willian, with the Portuguese manager claiming he is "an extra target" on top of the England international.

 "I couldn't say much in previous press conferences," he claimed.

"I have to answer your questions and try to be honest, but at the same time try to hide a few things.

"I'm happy with my squad, but every one of us managers, we say we are happy, but we are always unhappy.

"We always want something of more quality and we never close the door to the possibility of adding more quality."

Mourinho also admitted that players will have to leave the side to make way for Willian and for him, hopefully Rooney, but he insists he wants it to be on a loan rather than a permanent move away from the club.

"If somebody's coming, somebody will leave," Mourinho said.

"The point is not to sell. I want a 22-player squad. If somebody comes, somebody leaves.

"Do we need to sell? No, we don't. Do we need to loan? Probably, yes.

"I don't like to work with big squads. I think 22 is the perfect number to answer to our needs."

It was believed that Mourinho did not see Juan Mata in his plans, but he dismissed those claims and confirmed the Spaniard will not be one of those to leave.

"No, (it is) speculation. He's a player we all like, he's a player we all want to keep and we want more quality in the team, we don't want less quality.

"We want to add quality. Juan is not a player we want to lose."