Chelsea winger Willian is of interest to Arsenal this summer, as the club search for free transfer and swap deals in the pandemic-affected market.

The Daily Mail report that Arsenal are on the lookout for free transfers and swap deals this summer. With the financial impact of coronavirus, the club don’t have much money to spare on major transfer fees, especially if they don’t make the Champions League.

The more problem positions the Gunners can fill without a fee, the better. Willian is reportedly one of the deals they’re looking at, with the winger out of contract at Chelsea this summer. As we know, Arsenal have strong links to the player’s agent, Kia Joorabchian.

ESPN journalist Jorge Nicola recently claimed Arsenal were the current favourites to sign Willian. However, he did add that the situation is still open, and there are other teams in the race.

Willian scored seven goals and assisted six in 37 appearances this season before the coronavirus lockdown. We still don’t have much clarity on what would happen to players like him if the current season goes on beyond the end of his contract.

FIFA are planning to allow short-term extensions, but Willian could just reject Chelsea’s offer. Whether the Premier League would then allow him to join up with Arsenal before the end of the current campaign is another matter.

They’ll probably insist that clubs can’t make any additions to their squad until next season, but that’s going to cause huge problems for any team with a lot of expiring contracts. They’ll be backed into a corner and forced to accept the demands of those players.

Just one of many issues to sort out when football returns.