World Cup 2018: Chelsea want £70m from Barcelona for Brazil midfielder Willian as first bid rejected
Blues holding firm over midfielder as negotiations continue after £50m bid turned down last week
CHELSEA will demand £70million from Barcelona for Brazil World Cup star Willian after rejecting the Spanish champions' opening £50m offer.
The winger, 29, has two years left on his contract at Stamford Bridge but this year labelled Barca and Real Madrid as clubs he 'dreams' of playing for.
Last Tuesday a £50m bid was rejected, and it is thought the Premier League side mulled the offer for a few days before saying no.
say the two clubs remain in discussions, but Chelsea are unwilling to sell for any less than their £70m valuation.
Willian netted against the Catalan club in the Champions League last-16 tie in February, and at the time told reporters: "Barca and Madrid are the two biggest clubs in the world, the clubs with more visibility, it's everyone's dream (to play for them).
"Of course, there are other big ones like Bayern or PSG, but these two are different."
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Willian scored 13 times, while also contributing 12 assists, in perhaps his best Chelsea season to date in 2017/18, but the team's overall performance failed to live up to expectations.
Winning the FA Cup papered over the cracks of a fifth-placed finish in the Premier League, just 12 months after cruising to the title.
The disappointment could spell the end for embattled boss Antonio Conte, who is expected to be sacked and replaced by former Napoli man Maurizio Sarri this summer.
Conte, 48, has planned an extensive training regime in case the club decide against paying his £9.5m compensation package, but Sarri, 59, is still thought to be the favourite to lead the club into the 2018/19 season.