Chelsea and Atletico Madrid have started negotiations on Joao Felix, a forward from Portugal.
Since Conor Gallagher and Samu Omorodion reached separate agreements, the two clubs have been in constant communication.
Felix is being sought after by a Premier League team after Omorodion’s planned transfer to Stamford Bridge fell through on Sunday night. Gallagher agreed to a transfer, thus it is still anticipated that he will join the Madrid team in the near future.
Felix had previously spent six months on loan at Stamford Bridge, where he finished the second part of the 2022–2023 season with four goals in 16 appearances.
The Portugal international has a contract with Atletico until June 2029, but Diego Simeone, the head coach, no longer feels the same way about him.
After his impressive performances at Euro 2024, the 24-year-old has been granted a longer summer sabbatical to enable him decide his future.
Aston Villa, Chelsea’s Premier League opponents, have already shown interest in signing the forward. Unai Emery, the head coach, has long admired the player’s abilities.
Felix scored 20 goals in his first season in the Benfica first team and was signed by Atletico in the summer of 2019 for €126 million (£113 million), the fourth-highest transfer cost in football history at the time.
Felix came to Chelsea on loan in January 2023 following three grueling years at Atletico, but the Premier League team decided against pursuing a permanent transfer for the forward last summer.
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