Willian: Much ado about nothing?

Daniel Alves (L) of Barcelona battles with Willian during the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final 2nd Leg match between Shakhtar Donetsk and Barcelona at the Donbass Arena on April 12, 2011 in Donetsk, Ukraine. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

For Liverpool, his main utility was positional. His presence on the left would have allowed fellow Brazilian Philippe Coutinho to play centrally. Newly-acquired left-back Aly Cissokho is by no means a replacement, but his presence indicates that the club are willing to improvise rather than pay over the odds.

Chelsea hardly need Willian. Theirs is a midfield already crammed with playmakers, some of whom are the best for their position on the planet. This acquisition is more likely prompted by a desire to do damage to Spurs, who will soon lose Gareth Bale to Real Madrid.

Bale, a winger, was responsible for most of Spurs’ end product last season – particularly post-January – and Andre Villas Boas likely believed that a playmaker on the wings could go some distance in filling the gap caused by the Welshman’s departure. Spurs have bought several other midfielders – Nacer Chadli and Paulinho (another Brazilian, gah!) – but Chelsea’s undercutting tactics have left them fuming.

Indeed, Jose Mourinho has already fired a snide barb in Spurs’ direction, “That’s the danger of medicals before contracts. The best thing you can do is do the medical in secret.” Knowing Mourinho’s propensity to play mind games – and play them better than anyone else – the taunting is unlikely to cease any time soon. A knock-on effect has been the hilarious rumour that Willian’s arrival will cause Chelsea to sell Juan Mata, possibly the most influential midfielder in the EPL.

Willian, currently awaiting a work permit, is not on the same level as Mata. And he is hardly a marquee signing for any of these clubs – let there not be excessive optimism about his abilities.

Not getting him will affect Liverpool off the pitch more than on it; fans are baying for blood after seeing yet another midfield target slip out of their hands. Chelsea have a strong enough bench to see off most challenges in the Premier League, and getting Willian is a psychological victory over their London rivals. The one club that genuinely needs a player for Willian’s position will miss out on him, resulting in much brotherly love all around.

It will be interesting to see if Willian can live up to the hype that currently surrounds him in the Premier League. As of now, this story looks headed for a ‘shattering’ anti-climax.