Atletico lower Joao Felix price to seal Chelsea transfer

Jacque Talbot

• Updated: 13 Feb 2023 19:10 GMT
• 3 min read

The fee Chelsea paid Atletico for the initial loan of Joao Felix could see a decrease in cost if they wish to sign the striker permanently in the summer.

Matteo Moretto reports that Todd Boehley’s relationship with Jorge Mendes is ‘excellent’ while the journalist states that Felix’s time with Atletico Madrid could be coming to an end.

If the Portuguese's performance continues in this vein, there is a feeling that the Blues will make a play to try and sign him at Stamford Bridge.

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Though Atletico have quoted a fee of around €130m-€140m, it’s possible that they will accept an offer of around €100m. Furthermore, it is reported that Felix has already fallen in love with Chelsea's owner, Todd Boehly, who is already thinking of building the team around him. This is despite the attacker only playing 148 minutes in a Chelsea shirt.

Jorge Mendes is a huge factor in the possible move and the relationship between the Portuguese super-agent and Boehly is excellent.

The 23-year-old had a number of proposals on the table in January after reports emerged that he wanted a move away.

Chelsea brought him in on a loan and the side were unable to seal any option-to-buy clause in the deal. But the Blues do have the advantage over other clubs if Felix was to finally bring an end to his time at Atletico.

Simeone on Felix

There had been reports of Felix’s fractious relationship with Diego Simeone, with news even filtering through in October last year that the manager had been ‘bullying’ him.

Simeone shot down such rumours in a press conference, however. He said: "The team is really good and the reality is another thing, the field of play. And in the reality of the field of play the thing is there's a manager who picks the best players as a result of what he sees," Simeone said.

"Do you think I'm not playing Joao to lose? No manager does that.

"When he starts to play well again in training, he works, he recovers his goalscoring touch, which we need, and he will play. But while I'm here, it's about performance, that's why his other teammates are playing. It's clear that each time he was good, he played."