Frank Lampard Confirms Willian Contract Talks & Challenges Winger to Score More Goals

Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has confirmed that the club are in talks with winger Willian over a new contract.

The 31-year-old will be out of contract at the end of the season, but recently admitted that he wants to stay at Stamford Bridge '​until he's 40'.

He has been a key player under Lampard this season, racking up five goals and four assists in 23 appearances, and the boss confirmed (via the ​Daily Mail) that ​Willian's representatives are discussing the financial side of a new deal.

"He's in talks with the club [about a contract], he speaks with the club on the money side of it," he said. "[He's been] Great for me, especially when he plays like he did the other day. It was an incredible performance. He has that talent.

"I knew he had that talent before I got the job. I think I have said this before, but the last year or two I have looked at him from afar and wasn't sure how much he was enjoying it, whether he felt happy in games.

"A bit of body language, in and out sometimes. My feeling at the start of the season was to give him his head, tell him how much I feel about him and how I see him.

"Get him fit, get him working off the ball because I know he can, and the rest in terms of what he does on the ball I can kind of let him do that because he has this incredibly ability to burst away from people."

His impact on the Blues this season has been impressive, and he has won over many of the clubs' fans who had grown frustrated with Willian in recent years.

The Brazilian has faced plenty of criticism for his inconsistency and lack of goalscoring threat, and Lampard admitted that he wants to see more from Willian going forward.

"If there was one thing I wanted from him at the start of the season it was a question of can you score more goals, because your talent says that you should do," he said. "And that means sometimes running into space behind defenders, and getting the other side, etc, and he is doing all those things.

"And the experience helps when you have got a young team, when the other options are younger, experience certainly helps. All his teammates love him, low maintenance player to have in the squad, so yes I am really happy with him."

Willian scored a stunning solo goal in the win over Tottenham last time out. He will expect to start against Southampton at Stamford Bridge on Boxing Day.

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