Chelsea are reportedly in contract extension talks with Estevao Willian as they look to ward off interest from several top European clubs.

The Brazil international has struggled for consistent game time so far this season, following the €138 million signing of Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa, but he caught the eye during his first Premier League start of the campaign versus Manchester United on Saturday afternoon.

Estevao was a bright spark in the Chelsea attack at Stamford Bridge, and Blues manager Xabi Alonso was quick to heap praise on the 19-year-old during his post-match press conference.

“We knew earlier this week - you ask me but sometimes I can’t give you all the info. We spoke after Tottenham and he knew he was going to be playing today,” Alonso told reporters when asked about his decision to include Estevao in the starting XI.

“He had the best response and showed that he deserves more and that he was prepared, and that is what we want from our players. So we're very happy for him.

“He deserves to enjoy this game; he had a good connection with the crowd and was really close to scoring his goal. He fought really hard and at the end he was tired, but it has been a good day for him.

“I assess different situations, from what we were going to do against Liverpool, and what we were going to do [against Man Utd]. I had an idea [that Estevao would start], and I had it clear that he could have a good impact today, and he has shown it.

“He was a threat, he created many chances and situations where we could score. He has shown it well today.”

Estevao to stay at Chelsea

Estevao had racked up just 172 minutes of action from a possible 990 before Man Utd’s visit to west London over the weekend, and this lack of game time was a driving factor behind rumours of a possible exit in 2027.

Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain were reportedly eager to explore a potential deal in January, while Barcelona were also linked with a possible transfer after missing out on Estevao’s signature during his time at Palmeiras.

However, Alonso played down reports of a departure before his side’s win over Man Utd, and Spanish outlet AS now report that contract renewal negotiations are underway.

Estevao’s current deal doesn’t expire until 2033, but Chelsea are keen to reward him with a lucrative pay rise and it’s understood that a sale will not be sanctioned, with the Brazil attacker instead set to play a prominent role at Stamford Bridge over the coming years.