Tottenham and Chelsea’s Brazilian Target Trying to Force January Exit

Brazilian midfielder Willian has failed to return from Brazil in time for the start of Shaktar Donetsk's winter training camp sparking rumours that he is seeking to leave the club in the current transfer window.

The creative midfielder went back to his native Brazil during the winter break and has remained in South America despite Shakhtar returning to training.

This has led to suggestions that Willian is attempting to force through a move away from the club after seeing the Ukrainian side bring in a similar player in Taison earlier this month.

Taison, also a Brazilian playmaker, was heavily linked with Chelsea earlier this month but joined Shakhtar from Metalist Kharkiv which could now leave the west London club open to once again pursue Willian.

Chelsea and Tottenham have both admitted their interest in the 24-year-old and now the midfielders manager has suggested he may be attempting to force through a move.

"It is not very nice to say that Willian did not return from holiday on time and thus he is exerting a certain pressure on the club," said Lucescu, as quoted in the Evening Standard. "I think it was unprofessional of him.

"The president decided to do everything possible to sign a player of Willian's level, who already has experience of playing at a high standard. We look forward to having Willian again and I would like him to come back and behave as he did before - as a professional and decent man.

"I would like him to solve his problems in a civilised manner here in Donetsk, and not by phone. I have great respect for Willian and I would not like him to be put under pressure by the people who surround him, and who perhaps advise him the wrong things.

"He should reject the advice of those who surround him - they are not doing very good things. With or without Willian, Shakhtar will move on."

Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas admitted last October that he was in regular contact with Willian via text messages after failing to land him in the summer.

The midfielder also admitted that he did have offers from Tottenham and Chelsea last year, saying: "There were two offers in the summer - one from Chelsea and one from Tottenham. Choosing between the two clubs would be difficult."