August 19th 2024.
It has been highly anticipated that Joao Felix will be making a move to Chelsea before the transfer deadline. The club has reached an agreement with Atletico Madrid for the transfer of the 24-year-old player. Felix's previous loan spell at Stamford Bridge in 2022/23 did not meet expectations, but Chelsea has expressed renewed interest in him and it seems like his return is almost finalized.
Personal terms were already settled between Felix and Chelsea, and now the two clubs are in talks to ensure the smooth completion of the Portuguese player's transfer before the deadline. According to The Athletic, Atletico Madrid is satisfied with Chelsea's offer and Felix is expected to join the Premier League giants for a fee of around £36million. The report also states that Felix has been offered a six-year contract with the option for an additional 12 months.
There were also talks of Felix's Atleti teammate, Samu Omorodion, joining Chelsea as competition for Nicolas Jackson at centre-forward, but the deal fell through last week. Moreover, the two clubs are still discussing a potential move for Conor Gallagher, with the English midfielder currently training alone as he awaits a decision on his future before Chelsea's match against Manchester City.
Initially, there were rumors that Atletico Madrid was asking for up to £51million for Felix, but these were refuted by the Spanish media. It is now expected that the former Benfica star will be unveiled by Chelsea in the coming days. Felix has been vocal about his desire to return to Chelsea and has been named in Atletico Madrid's squad to face Villarreal, but recent reports suggest that his involvement in the game is uncertain.
When asked about Felix's situation at his pre-match press conference, Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone did not rule out the possibility of Felix playing in the game. He praised the player for his dedication and commitment in training and said that time will tell if he will be included in the team for the game.
Felix struggled to meet expectations during his previous loan spell at Chelsea, where he scored four goals and failed to register any assists in 20 appearances. Last season, he spent his time on loan at Barcelona, where he managed to score 10 goals and provide four assists in La Liga. Chelsea's pursuit of Felix has surprised many fans, considering his underwhelming performance in his previous stint at the club.
Enzo Maresca, Chelsea's head coach, also refused to comment on the speculation surrounding Felix in a press conference on Friday. He stated that since the player does not belong to Chelsea or Napoli, it would not be appropriate to talk about him. However, he did mention that the club knows what they need and hopes to bring in some players before the transfer window closes.
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