Chelsea ‘offer’ Liverpool target to European giant to ‘make the operation’ for €127m man ‘cheaper’

Chelsea are reportedly keen to sign Joao Felix permanently and they are hoping La Liga giants Atletico Madrid will accept a player-plus-cash offer.

Felix joined Chelsea on loan from the Spanish side during the January transfer window. They are understood to be paying a loan fee of around £9m until the end of this season.

The Portugal debut was sent off in his debut but he has otherwise made a strong impression. He has been one of Graham Potter’s bright sparks in recent weeks amid their ongoing poor form.

Spanish outlet Marca are reporting that Chelsea have taken to Felix as they ‘want to keep’ him beyond this campaign.

Todd Boehly is to ‘make an offer’ for the Atletico Madrid star but it is noted that the ‘operation will not be easy’. The Blues feel that they can ‘build a winning project with Felix’ and they are pushing for a player-plus-cash deal.

The report adds thatis ‘one of the players offered’ to Atletico Madrid ‘to make the Joao operation cheaper’.

This may prove to be difficult though given Mount’s ‘very high salary’ and Atletico Madrid CEO Miguel Angel Gil ‘has made it clear that his intention is to receive a significant amount of money without the inclusion of surplus Chelsea footballers’.

He also is seeking to ‘recover as much as possible’ of the €127m they paid to sign Felix from Benfica in 2019. Their exact asking price is not revealed but it is indicated that it will depend on his form before the summer.

Felix himself has recently admitted that he is feeling “very comfortable” at Chelsea.

“They [Chelsea] don’t have a purchase option. They would have to reach an agreement with Atletico. I’ve only been here a few weeks, a month. I am knowing everything. I am very comfortable, but nobody knows the future,”

“I was already looking for a change of scenery a while ago, because it was difficult to get used to the way of playing. I left because my head was already full from trying so hard and not being able to. It had to be in this market and I think it has been good for Atleti and for me too.

“Contrary to many people, Miguel [Angel Gil Marin, Atletico Madrid CEO] has always trusted me a lot, he has always twisted his arm for me. I have a good relationship with him.

“I appreciate him letting me out because I needed it, it wasn’t right. Miguel has always believed in me and I think he continues to believe. He sees me as a hope for Atlético, but we’ll see…”