Joao Felix: Atletico Madrid ahead flies to London for Chelsea medical forward of mortgage transfer | Switch Centre Information

Joao Felix has flown to London for his Chelsea medical forward of a mortgage transfer from Atletico Madrid till the top of the season.

The Blues, who’re set to beat Premier League rivals Manchester United and Arsenal to the signing of the Portugal ahead, pays an €11m (£9.69m) mortgage payment plus his wages.

Felix would offer a much-needed increase to move coach Graham Potter’s attacking choices, together with his aspect scoring simply 20 objectives in 17 Premier League matches this season.

Regardless of the switch window solely being open for simply over every week, Chelsea have already been energetic in January, signing Benoit Badiashile, David Datro Fofana and Andrey Santos.

Potter will hope their arrivals can assist to enhance his workforce’s kind, with only one win coming from their final seven matches in all competitions.

Chelsea are presently tenth within the Premier League – 10 factors exterior the highest 4 – and have already been knocked out of the FA Cup and Carabao Cup.

The west London membership’s solely practical remaining hope of silverware this season is within the Champions League, the place they face Borussia Dortmund within the final 16 subsequent month.

Felix has simply seven LaLiga begins for Atletico this season however he was named within the beginning XI for his or her 1-0 defeat at residence to Barcelona on Sunday.

Nevertheless, the LaLiga aspect are ready to let Felix – who has 5 objectives and three assists in all competitions this season – depart on mortgage in January due to his troublesome relationship with supervisor Diego Simeone.

The 23-year-old joined Atletico from Benfica in a €126m (£111m) deal from Benfica in 2019.

‘Chelsea additionally need right-back and midfielder’

Sky Sports activities chief reporter Kaveh Solhekol:

“You’ve acquired to think about Felix’s wages. He earns greater than £250,000 per week so Chelsea must cowl his wages as nicely.

“Chelsea have been criticised as a result of they’re spending a lot cash within the switch market, however they do have a technique this month.

“What they need to signal is a large participant – I believe that might be Felix. Ideally, they want a right-back as nicely, and a midfield participant.”

‘Felix deal works for each events’

Sky Sports activities reporter Dharmesh Sheth:

“This deal would in all probability work for each events. Chelsea would in all probability look to the summer season after they can reassess and see what different choices are on the market.

“For Atletico Madrid, they paid near £120m for Felix. In the event that they had been to incorporate an choice value now or promote him now, they wouldn’t get anyplace close to that cash.

“It’s seemingly they gained’t get anyplace close to that cash after they do ultimately promote him, but when he goes to Chelsea and performs very well for six months, he can then return to Atletico with three years left on his contract and possibly his worth is increased.

“Arsenal needed to signal him as nicely, and Manchester United had been taking a look at him.”

‘Felix may assist however subsequent season needs to be the main focus’

Sky Sports activities soccer journalist Joe Shread:

Proprietor Todd Boehly has already proven he’s greater than keen to spend in a bid to enhance Graham Potter’s squad, and assault is clearly an space that wants addressing.

Discovering the again of the online is a critical concern, with Chelsea rating twelfth for objectives scored within the Premier League, whereas Raheem Sterling and Kai Havertz are the one gamers to attain greater than three objectives in all competitions.

The necessity for extra goalscorers in Potter’s squad is apparent, however the lack of probabilities being created is arguably a fair larger concern.

Chelsea rank a lowly fifteenth for anticipated objectives within the Premier League and have truly outperformed their determine of 18.81, suggesting their forwards usually are not underperforming as dramatically as it could appear.

Felix’s transfer to Atletico could not have labored out the best way both get together hoped, however he’s a participant that ought to have the ability to assist with Chelsea’s points within the remaining third if he hits the bottom working in west London.

Regardless of beginning simply seven LaLiga matches this season, he ranks within the prime 12 within the Spanish prime flight for each objectives and assists per 90 minutes.

Felix can be a flexible ahead, able to taking part in as a striker, a No 10 or on the flanks – one thing that may enchantment to Potter, given the top coach’s behavior of deploying a wide range of formations.

Nevertheless, questions might be requested in regards to the determination to herald Felix if Chelsea don’t negotiate an choice to purchase the Portugal worldwide as a part of the mortgage deal.

Barring one other exceptional run within the Champions League, silverware is already out of the query this season for the Blues, that means the second half of the marketing campaign needs to be about constructing for 2023/24.

If Felix is just not going to be part of subsequent season, do they want him taking a spot within the workforce of someone who might be?

Observe the January switch window with Sky Sports activities

Who might be on the transfer this winter? The January switch window opens on Sunday January 1, 2023 and closes at 11pm on Tuesday January 31, 2023.

Maintain updated with all the newest switch information and rumours in our devoted Switch Centre weblog on Sky Sports activities’ digital platforms. It’s also possible to meet up with the ins, outs and evaluation on Sky Sports activities Information.