Joao Felix: Atletico Madrid forward flies to London for Chelsea medical ahead of loan move | Transfer Centre News

Joao Felix has flown to London for a Chelsea medical ahead of his loan move from Atletico Madrid until the end of the season.

The Blues, who will beat Premier League rivals Manchester United and Arsenal to sign the Portugal forward, will pay a €11m (£9.69m) loan fee plus his wages.

Felix will provide a much-needed boost to head coach Graham Potter’s attacking options, with his side having scored just 20 goals in 17 Premier League games this season.

Although the transfer window has only been open for a little over a week, Chelsea have been active in January, signing Benoit Badiashile, David Datro Fofana and Andrey Santos.

Potter will be hoping his arrival can help improve his side’s form, with just one win from their last seven matches in all competitions.

Chelsea are currently 10th in the Premier League – 10 points outside the top four – and have lost both the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup.

The west London club’s only realistic hope of a trophy this season is in the Champions League, where they will face Borussia Dortmund in the last 16 next month.

Felix has just seven LaLiga appearances for Atletico this season, but he was named in the starting XI for the 1-0 home defeat against Barcelona on Sunday.

However, the LaLiga side are ready to let Felix – who has five goals and three assists in all competitions this season – leave on loan in January due to his strained relationship with manager Diego Simeone.

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

‘Chelsea also want a right-back and a midfielder’

Sky Sports chief journalist Kaveh Solhekol:

“You have to factor in Felix’s wages. He earns more than £250,000 a week so Chelsea have to cover his wages as well.

“Chelsea have been criticized for spending a lot of money in the transfer market, but they have a strategy this month.

“What they want to sign is a wide player – I think that will be Felix. Ideally, they also want a right-back, and a midfielder.”

‘Felix Agreement works for both parties’

Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth:

“This deal may work for both parties. Chelsea may look at it in the summer when they can re-evaluate and look at the other options they have.

“For Atletico Madrid, they paid almost £120m for Felix. If they include the current option price or sell him now, they will not come close to that money.

“Maybe he won’t get close to that money when he finally sells, but if he goes to Chelsea and does well for six months, he can go back to Atletico on a three-year contract and maybe he’s worth a lot more.

“Arsenal also want to sign him, and Manchester United are looking at him.”

‘Felix can help but next season should be the focus’

Sky Sports football reporter Joe Shread:

Owner Todd Boehly has shown he is more than willing to spend in a bid to improve Graham Potter’s squad, and attack is clearly an area that needs to be addressed.

Finding the back of the net is a serious problem, with Chelsea ranked 12th for goals scored in the Premier League, while Raheem Sterling and Kai Havertz are the only players to score more than three goals in all competitions.

The need for more goalscorers in Potter’s squad is clear, but the lack of chances being created is perhaps the bigger problem.

Chelsea ranks a lowly 15th for expected goals in the Premier League and actually tops the score at 18.81, which suggests the forwards aren’t performing as well as they seem.

Felix’s move to Atletico may not have worked out the way either side would have liked, but he is a player who should be able to help Chelsea’s woes in the final third if he can get his footing in west London.

Despite starting just seven LaLiga matches this season, he ranks in the top 12 in Spain’s top flight for goals and assists per 90 minutes.

Felix is ​​also a versatile forward, able to play as a striker, number 10 or on the wing – something that will appeal to Potter, given the head coach’s habit of deploying various formations.

However, questions will be asked about the decision to bring in Felix if Chelsea do not negotiate an option to buy the Portugal international as part of the loan deal.

Barring another incredible run in the Champions League, trophies are out of the question this season for the Blues, meaning the second half of the campaign should be built for 2023/24.

If Felix isn’t going to be a part of next season, should he take a spot on the team that will be?

Follow the January transfer window with Sky Sports

Who will move this season? The January transfer window is open Sunday 1 January 2023 and close it at 11 p.m at Tuesday 31 January 2023.

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