Atletico Madrid are worried that Chelsea are not considering signing Joao Felix permanently
Spanish giants Atletico Madrid are concerned that Chelsea will not sign Joao Felix permanently when his loan spell at Stamford Bridge expires at the end of the season.
According to Cadena SER, (h/t Metro), Felix’s exploits at Chelsea and the lack of regular playing time have Atletico worried. Since his arrival, Felix has played in 11 games and scored just twice.
The 23-year-old Portuguese player, cost the Blues £16 million in loan fee and has made a decent impression since joining the club. While his performances cannot be faulted, the lack of end product is worrying.
Since he now has gradually slipped down the hierarchy, Chelsea might not enter negotiations to sign Felix permanently. The loan does not include an option to purchase.
The 23-year-old has an €80 million (£70.5 million) transfer price from Atletico Madrid. But there is growing concern that, at the conclusion of the season, Chelsea will no longer be interested in signing a long-term agreement.
The former Benfica star is reportedly not part of Diego Simeone’s plans, and they are now prepared to move him for the upcoming season. The chances of forcing Chelsea’s hand following a strong loan spell are waning.
Newcastle United and Manchester United are two clubs that have expressed an interest in signing the 23-year-old this summer. It is debatable if Chelsea will also join the queue.
Although we cannot claim Felix has made a significant difference for Chelsea since his signing, he has had a respectable influence on the team. He still has certain shortcomings, though, and if he can fill them, he will rank among the best players.
He excels in one-on-one situations and can escape intense pressing, but his lack of a last pass is particularly frustrating, and spending €80 million (£70.5 million) on him would be excessive.
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However, knowing that Simeone doesn’t want him at the club and that Atletico Madrid haven’t forfeited a single match since he departed in January, we can potentially negotiate a cut-price deal. Agreeing to terms as per the quoted price would be madness.