January 31st 2025.
Chelsea is currently considering a potential deal in late January. This is due to the frustration of their forward, Joao Felix, who has expressed a desire to leave Stamford Bridge before the transfer deadline. Fans were thrilled when Felix returned to the club after a successful loan spell in the second half of the 2022-23 season. The Blues made the decision to sign him permanently last summer, spending £45 million to secure his services from Atletico Madrid, who had originally spent over £100 million on him in 2019.
Considering the fact that Felix was one of Chelsea's most expensive signings of the summer and signed a seven-year contract with the club, it has been surprising to see him struggle for game time under Enzo Maresca. At 25 years old, he has only started three of Chelsea's 23 Premier League games, playing as a backup to players such as Cole Palmer, Noni Madueke, Pedro Neto, and Jadon Sancho. As a result, Felix has become increasingly frustrated with his lack of minutes on the pitch and is pushing for a move away from the club before the January transfer window closes.
If Felix's wish is not granted, his future at Chelsea could become even more uncertain. The club is currently looking into a potential deal for Manchester United winger, Alejandro Garnacho, before the window closes. Aston Villa had previously shown interest in signing Felix earlier in the week, and Unai Emery, who had also targeted the player last summer, may see him as a suitable replacement for Jhon Duran. Like Felix, Duran has struggled for regular playing time this season, playing second fiddle to England striker Ollie Watkins, and is now set to make a big-money move to Saudi Arabia.
While AC Milan has also expressed interest in signing Felix, they are also considering other options such as Santiago Gimenez, a forward from Feyenoord and Mexico. Maresca, on the other hand, seems ready to sanction Felix's departure from the club. Chelsea has not made any major signings in the January transfer window, but they could potentially see a number of players leave before the February 3 deadline. Along with Felix, there have also been talks of Axel Disasi leaving the club, with Aston Villa showing interest in the defender.
After a strong start to the season under new manager Maresca, Chelsea's form has dropped off in recent weeks, causing them to slip to sixth in the Premier League table, 13 points behind league leaders, Arne Slot's Liverpool. The Blues suffered their third league defeat in six matches on Saturday as Manchester City came from behind to secure a 3-1 victory. Chelsea will be eager to bounce back and return to winning ways when they face West Ham, managed by their former coach, Graham Potter, on Monday.
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