Chelsea and João Félix wish to continue their association beyond this season, according to Marca.
The forward has quickly adapted at the west London club after they signed him on a dry loan deal from Atlético Madrid in January. His idea is to stay at Stamford Bridge and the Blues also want to keep him.
Graham Potter’s side believe they can build a winning project around the 23-year-old and Enzo Fernández. After investing heavily in the last two windows, Chelsea owner Todd Boehly is ‘willing to do more’ in the summer.
The Portugal international aims to become one of the best players in Europe. He and his camp feel that can be achieved at the Premier League side. The English club, down their end, ‘prepare an offer’ to buy him from Atlético.
Chelsea are ready to include Mason Mount and a few of their own players as part of the deal for Félix. The former is no longer untouchable and could be offered to Atlético to lower the ex-Benfica star’s asking price.
Diego Simeone’s side would not be able to match Mount’s current salary. Another problem is that Atlético want only cash and their CEO, Miguel Ángel Gil Marín, intends to recover the €127m fee they invested to sign Félix.
The final figure will depend on how Félix performs at Chelsea until the end of this season. If he struggles, the price could be lowered. Potter’s side must find a formula to convince Atlético to buy Félix in the summer.
Journalist Antón Meana told Cadena Ser’s El Larguero Chelsea are “best placed to hire” the player if Simeone were to continue at the club. He also backed by Marca’s claim that Boehly plans to invest big again in the next window.
“The new owner of the Stamford Bridge team is willing to spend another large amount of money next summer and the intention to sign João Félix as a property (permanent signing) is on the table. Boehly, owner of the blue club, knows that clubs like Barça have asked about him many times in private and he wants to be well positioned in a possible transfer of his new star,” Meana said.
“The sources consulted by ‘El Larguero’ speak of a figure that would be around €80m in the summer. This figure is subject to Cholo’s continuity at the Wanda, something that is taken for granted if the team gets into the Champions League.”
Another journalist, Miguel Martín Talavera, believes Félix will not return to the Madrid club irrespective of whether or not Simeone leaves.
“I’m sure that João will not return to Atlético, regardless of whether Simeone continues or not. During his time at Atlético he did an Arda Turan: he didn’t want to suffer, he didn’t want to run, he didn’t look after the team… He said it himself in an interview with AS,” Talavera explained.
“Félix does not want to play for Atlético de Madrid, neither with Cholo nor without Cholo. He barely has a relationship with three footballers from the dressing room (rojiblanco) since he left. They have not died of grief nor were they going to do a welcome party if he came back in summer.”
