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BLUES BROTHER: Willian is set to join Chelsea after snubbing Spurs

BRAZILIAN STAR Willian will become a Chelsea player after both Liverpool and Tottenham tried to sign the attacker.

The 25-year-old seemed destined to join Andre Villas-Boas’ Spurs following a medical at the north London club, but when the Europa League champions came in with an offer, he could not refuse.

He joins from Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala, which have experienced reported financial difficulties and put up their highest earners for sale.

Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy will be fuming as Chelsea offered the same amount – £30m – as his club was willing to pay.

The chance to work with Jose Mourinho and play Champions League football in west London was likely to have proved decisive in Willian’s thinking.

Yesterday evening, Chelsea wooed Willian at the last minute before he could sign for Spurs – the deal was made possible after Blues owner Roman Abramovich contacted compatriot and Anzhi owner Suleyman Kerimov.

Capturing the Brazilian wing wizard represents Chelsea’s third major summer signing after having bought Germany international Andre Schurrle and Dutch midfielder Marco van Ginkel.

Yet his arrival has triggered speculation that Juan Mata may become surplus to requirements, since Chelsea now have an abundance of attacking talent, including Oscar, Eden Hazard, Kevin de Bruyne, and Victor Moses.

Also, there has been talk that the west London club may use Mata as a makeweight in a deal to sign Wayne Rooney from Manchester United.

However, Mourinho quashed such theories about the Spaniard, who has been a star performer for the Blues since joining from Valencia two seasons ago.

In a press conference, the Portuguese boss said: “He's a player we all like, he's a player we all want to keep and we want more quality in the team, we don't want less quality.

“We want to add quality. Juan is not a player we want to lose.”

Talking about Willian’s move, Mourinho added: “I'm happy with my squad, but every one of us managers, we say we are happy, but we are always unhappy.

“We always want something of more quality and we never close the door to the possibility of adding more quality.”

Willian is expected to agree personal terms and gain a work permit before being officially unveiled as a Blue.