Willian emerges as shock January transfer option for Premier League club…

Everton have been offered the chance to sign Brazilian free agent Willian.

The former Chelsea, Arsenal and Fulham winger mutually terminated his contract with Olympiacos last month and is keen on a return to the Premier League.

The 36-year-old’s five-month spell in Greece was plagued by injuries but he appears to have overcome the niggles ahead of a possible move back to English football.

According to The Times, agents representing the Brazilian are trying to build up interest in him with Everton put on red alert as they search for creative options to boost their survival bid.

The report claims Everton are yet to make a decision on whether they will move for Willian with director of football Kevin Thelwell having sounded out Jaden Philogene, who completed a switch to Ipswich this week, and Lyon star Ernest Nuamah.

Everton are limited on what they can spend this month and have their hands tied with loan signings from domestic clubs, such as the injured Armando Broja.

talkSPORT understands the Toffees would be interested in a free transfer to boost their attacking options and Willian fits that bill.

Recently-installed boss David Moyes spoke about the importance of bringing in new additions to help push on from the Sean Dyche era, following Everton’s 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa on Wednesday.

“You can definitely see over the years that the financial situation has played its part on the pitch and that’s the outcome. All the supporters are aware of that,” Moyes said.

“I think it’s really important if we can add some of that quality and give the players a little lift as well. The crowd was good but I could sense them saying ‘we’ve seen a lot of this before, we need to see something else’.”

Willian could provide the perfect mix of experience and know-how having amassed 317 Premier League games during his career.

He would also provide a low-cost option for the Merseyside club who have failed to register a goal in nine of the last 11 league games.

The two-time Premier League title winner, who has 47 goals to his name, has spent his English football career in London.

He picked up his title wins during his seven-year spell at Stamford Bridge and also added an FA Cup, League Cup and Europa League triumph.

His move to Arsenal in 2020 lasted just one season before returning to his homeland with Corinthians.

A return to England with Fulham in 2022 saw Willian roll back the years with a string of fine displays before swapping west London for Olympiacos last summer.

Willian is no stranger to transfer drama after Chelsea snatched him from under the noses of a London rivals Tottenham in 2013.

The then Spurs boss Andre Villas Boas believed he had tied up a deal for the Brazilian using part of the funds recouped by Gareth Bale’s £85million switch to Real Madrid.

Former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich used his trusted contact list and contacted Anzhi Makhachkala owner, Suleyman Kerimov, and subsequently hijacked the transfer.

Liverpool were also believed to be interested in acquiring the Brazil star however, Willian sealed his ‘preferred’ move to Stamford Bridge after getting wind of Chelsea’s interest by agent Kia Joorabchian, as he arrived at Tottenham’s training ground for a medical.

Recalling the drama in an interview with Brazilian television in 2018, Willian revealed that he told Joorabchian, “I’ll get back in the van, you’ll make do and I’ll go to Chelsea, I will not sign with Tottenham.

“I stayed there for eight hours in the training centre. Tottenham’s director said ‘I’m going to report you to FIFA, this and that, fans here in England will boo you, this and that.’ They made up a lot of things.

“I got stuck there for eight hours. Then I left and I went straight to meet the Chelsea people to sort the details and sign.”