Transfer News: Blow for Chelsea in their pursuit of 23-year-old La Liga striker

Chelsea suffer Joao Felix transfer blow as player is offered to rivals

According to journalist Simon Phillips (via @FabrizioRomano via @caughtoffside) [h/t Football. London], Chelsea have suffered a blow in their pursuit of Atletico Madrid forward Joao Felix.

It is being claimed Manchester United and Arsenal have held talks with the agent of the Portuguese sensation over a potential loan move and this means the Blues have fallen behind in the race.

Felix happens to be represented by superagent Jorge Mendes with the Portuguese doing everything in his power to ensure that the Atletico forward ends up in the right place after his next move.

The 23-year-old’s time in Madrid has not gone according to plan at all. Felix has struggled to adapt to the playstyle of the Spanish club and has eventually fallen out of favour with the manager.

Diego Simeone has left Felix on the bench on a number of occasions this season. He does not seem to trust him to play a starring role and this relationship is increasingly growing fractious.

The former Benfica wonderkid is too good a player to be warming the benches of Atletico Madrid though and he needs a new lease of life at a different club to show the world what he is capable of.

Felix is no longer a talented young player with a lot of potential. At 23, he is at the age when he must be delivering on the promise that he has shown for too long now and he needs to make sure that the club he goes to suits his playstyle

The fact that Chelsea have not opened talks yet with Felix might show the fact that they do not prioritize him as of now. This is understandable considering we have a similar profile in our squad in Kai Havertz.

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• Chelsea eyeing loan deal for Atletico Madrid outcast Joao Felix

What we actually need is a young proper number nine who can act as the reference point and be the solution to our long-term striker crisis. Thus, losing out on Felix might not be a bad thing after all.