Chelsea are in advanced talks to sign Atletico Madrid forward Joao Felix on loan for the remainder of the season.
The Blues look set to beat Arsenal and Manchester United to the Portugal international’s signature, with neither Premier League club willing to pay the €11m loan fee. Should the move goes through, he will become Chelsea’s fourth January signing, after Andrey Santos, Benoit Badiashile and David Datro Fofana.
Joao Felix, 23, has had an up-and-down career with Atletico Madrid ever since arriving from Benfica in the summer of 2019. He has struggled to adapt to Diego Simeone’s rigid system at Atletico Madrid, managing only 34 goals and 18 assists in 134 appearances across all competitions. The forward has started just seven out of 14 La Liga games this season, with the Portuguese’s relationship seemingly having soured with Simeone.
As a result, Felix wants to leave Atletico Madrid in this transfer window and has admirers at Arsenal and Man United, but Chelsea are now reportedly the front-runners to sign him. They have reached a verbal agreement to sign Felix on loan, with the Pensioners expected to pay an € 11 million loan fee which is below what Atletico initially craved.
Chelsea desperately need more firepower
Chelsea are currently 10th in the Premier League table—10 points off fourth-placed Man United—and have already been knocked out of the Carabao Cup and FA Cup. Graham Potter has come under immense scrutiny from fans and pundits alike for his team’s dismal run of form, with just one win coming from their last seven matches in all competitions.
It is clear that the Blues need reinforcements to give them some form of inspiration to salvage the season. With just 20 goals in 17 Premier League matches this season, improving the productivity in front of goal has become a priority for Graham Potter in this transfer window.
The underwhelming performances of Hakim Ziyech, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Kai Havertz, coupled with the recent injuries to Christian Pulisic and Raheem Sterling, has further accentuated Chelsea’s need for attacking players that could make an instant impact.
Can Joao Felix solve Chelsea’s goalscoring woes?
Joao Felix never really looked like a perfect fit under Diego Simeone at Atletico Madrid but a change of scenery could help him fulfil his massive potential. Despite Chelsea struggling at the moment, Felix has found the club’s project under Graham Potter appealing and wants to join.
The need for more goalscorers in this Chelsea squad is obvious, but the lack of chances created is an even bigger problem. Potter would hope Felix not only adds more goals to his side but also provides the flair and creativity to breach well-oiled defences.
The Portugal international is not a striker by trade but can play all across the front three, so it will all depend on how Potter manages to get the best out of the talented player who desperately needs a fresh environment to revive his career. If the move goes through, Potter and Chelsea fans would hope Felix hits the ground running and helps the club achieve a top-four finish.
I am Rohan Sengupta from one of the busiest cities in India, Mumbai. A Journalism graduate with a keen interest in sports, football is something I simply cannot live without and writing, discussing and analyzing the game is what I do 24*7.