Chelsea told Joao Felix transfer fee as Atletico hope for 'dream' loan spell

Suraj Radia

• 8 Feb 2023 17:24 GMT
• 2 min read

Atletico Madrid are hoping for Joao Felix to ‘spend a few dream months’ in London so that Chelsea will pay the Spanish side’s asking price for their loanee forward.

The Blues signed Felix on January until the end of the season for a fee of €11 million and, while the 23-year-old extended his contract with Atletico until 2027 prior to the loan deal, the La Liga outfit are still hoping to cash in on him.

Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo claims that Atletico are waiting on a resolution over Felix’s future before being able to ‘configure’ their own squad and they are holding out for Chelsea to be convinced to pay a fee of €140 million in the summer.

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Atletico are desperate to recoup the €126m they paid for Felix in 2019 and will consider loaning him out again next season if no permanent deal can be agreed, with the Portuguese international unlikely to stay at the club if Diego Simeone extends his stay in Madrid.

Speculation has been rife surrounding Simeone’s future with Atleti and there is a chance that the Argentine manager’s 12-year tenure could come to an end this year.

Simeone fell out with Felix, prompting the ex-Benfica man’s exit, and Atletico are hoping that a positive loan spell will convince other teams to ‘dare to plug the hole’ of their record signing if Chelsea don’t end up making a permanent move.

Will Chelsea consider signing Felix permanently?

Felix is expected to return to action for Chelsea following his three-match ban after getting sent off on his debut in the loss to Fulham last month.

Chelsea have struggled for to find the back of the net this season, having scored ten fewer goals than any other side in the top half of the Premier League.

Kai Havertz has been preferred to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as a striker under Graham Potter so far this season but the German has netted just two goals in his last 12 games.

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While Felix has never been a prolific scorer throughout his career, and still prefers to play behind the striker instead of leading the line, he may become an integral part of Chelsea’s attack as they search for a solution to their attacking woes.

However, with the Blues having already agreed to sign Christopher Nkunku for next season, the likelihood of Felix remaining at Stamford Bridge past the summer appears slim, especially for the price being quoted by Atletico.

Although Chelsea are believed to still want to sign a true number nine, Felix will have to prove his credentials as a goalscorer if he has any chance of turning his loan into a permanent deal.