Revealed: The Liverpool star that could help Chelsea sign Felix

Stuart Telford

• 17 Feb 2023 01:35 CST
• 3 min read

Chelsea hope to sign Joao Felix on a permanent deal from Atletico Madrid at the end of the season, and they could get a helping hand from Liverpool.

Felix joined Chelsea on loan for in January for an €11 million fee and has shown flashes of the genius that once made him the second-most expensive teenager in world football behind Kylian Mbappe.

The Blues want to make the deal permanent at the end of the season, but are loath to pay anything like the €126 million Atletico gave Benfica for his services in the summer of 2019. They will reportedly try to use fringe players as makeweights.

READ: Chelsea make offer for Joao Felix - but there's a catch

Atletico still rate Felix but they need the money, his ability to play between the lines as a second striker an asset that relatively few in the game share, but Reds forward Roberto Firmino could make for the perfect replacement.

"La Liga giants Atletico Madrid are thought to be keen on prying Firmino away from Anfield given that they view him as an ideal replacement for Joao Felix," report the Mirror.

"In regard to whom the Reds view as their 'next Firmino', they've gone for an in-house choice in January signing Cody Gakpo."

READ: Klopp makes major Firmino statement after Gakpo transfer

Gakpo solution for Liverpool?

Liverpool beat Manchester United to Gakpo's signature in the winter transfer window, paying PSV Eindhoven the majority of his €42 million transfer fee up front, but he has struggled to recreate his previous form so far.

Gakpo plundered 13 goals and 17 assists at a rate of one every 65 minutes in the first half of the season, but has just one goal in seven games since arriving at Anfield. Primarily a left winger, Jurgen Klopp has been testing him in Firmino's False 9 position of late.

"Obviously I played a few games in the centre and more like a False 9 to be involved in the build-up, try and be involved in the build-up, and from there go forward," the Dutchman told Sky Sports.

"It's another role than I'm used to, but it's good for me to improve the position and keep working."

Firmino is out of contract at the end of the season and Atletico could acquire him for a nominal fee. With the Brazilian in their ranks, Chelsea hope their asking price for Felix remains reasonable.