Bobby Vincent of Football.London says Joao Felix is confident of returning to Chelsea despite setbacks in the transfer. Atletico Madrid are requesting €60m (£51.4m) for Felix, but Chelsea have baulked at that offer.
Isaa Suarez of Marca says Chelsea are willing to sign the Portuguese international for €40m. Felix is surplus to requirements under Diego Simeone, so a deal should eventually be reached.
Felix’s last appearance for Atleti came in January 2023 and he spent last season on loan at Barcelona. There is no deal in place yet, but Felix’s camp are optimistic that negotiations will go in their favour.
Felix enjoyed being at Chelsea despite disappointing spell
Felix made 20 appearances while on loan at Chelsea in 2022/23, scoring four goals without making an assist. The 24-year-old started 11 Premier League games (42%) and was substituted off seven times, averaging 58 minutes each match (64%).
Felix struggled for consistency at Stamford Bridge but scored two goals in his last four league appearances before departing. And Vincent says the loan spell made a real impression on Felix, so much so that he wants to return.
Todd Boehly taking a gamble
Felix joined Barcelona on loan last season, scoring 10 goals with six assists from 44 games. He didn’t do enough at the Camp Nou to earn a permanent move, so Todd Boehly is taking a gamble.
Felix, who has eight goals and four assists in 41 games for Portugal, hasn’t been the most prolific. He hasn’t scored more than eight league goals in a season since 2018/19 and won’t come cheap.
Cole Palmer (22) and Nicolas Jackson (14) were the only Chelsea players with more than eight league goals last season. Raheem Sterling (8), Mykhailo Mudryk (5) and Noni Madueke (5) failed to hit double figures, but can Felix?
Is paying €40m less of a gamble? Or should Chelsea turn their attentions elsewhere?
