According to Record Portugal, Chelsea wants to negotiate for the permanent signing of Joao Felix.
The West London club are very happy with the Portuguese, believing he can take the club to the next level in Europe’s top-5 leagues.
The player joined the Blues’ family on loan from Atletico Madrid during the January transfer window.
Reportedly, Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali are most likely to sign him permanently in the summer.
Joao has already established himself under Graham Potter at Chelsea, as evidenced by his statistics in all competitions.
Even though the Blues have a plethora of brilliant and talented attackers in the squad. They still want to keep the 23-year-old Portuguese.
The West London club wanted to include an “option-to-buy” in the deal when they signed him in the January transfer.
However, the La Liga side rejected the option to buy clause, meaning they want Felix at Atletico Madrid at the end of the season.
On the contrary, according to several reports, the 23-year-old Portuguese may join the Blues family permanently next season.
Felix stats in 2023-2024 at Chelsea (Premier League)Â
5 games
1 goal
52.6 touches per game
3.6 shots per 90 minutes
2.04 expected goals
1.6 shots on target
0.2 goals per game
2 big chances missed
1 big chance created
1.0 key passes per 90 minutes
85% pass accuracy
33% successful dribbles
41% total duels won
1.6 tackles per game
0.0 interceptions
0.0 clearances
Without being sentimental, the Portuguese youngster deserves to be signed permanently, as regards his potential.
On the contrary, Graham Potter doesn’t really need him in attack. He has enough reinforcements up front.
Spending over €100 million on Felix doesn’t make any sense, when they already have the likes of Mudryk and Madueke.
At the same time, Christopher Nkunku will arrive at Stamford Bridge in June, having already signed for the Premier League side.
Joao is an attacker with a high level of quality. Nevertheless, Chelsea are expected to wait for a while before signing him.
Speaking of the summer transfer window, the West London club aren’t expected to sign many new players.
They have already signed 8 players in January. However, they should focus on offloading some senior players in the squad.
As a result, they may sign a new midfielder and a striker. Even though N’Golo Kante is most likely to stay.
The Blues would want to sign a new defensive midfielder to partner with Enzo Fernández, since the Argentine loves to move forward.
Malo Gusto, Christopher Nkunku, and Levi Colwill will be at Chelsea next season. Therefore, signing Felix permanently doesn’t seem right.
Does Chelsea really need Joao Felix next season?
With the likes of Raheem Sterling, Mykhailo Mudryk, Noni Madueke, and David Datro Fofana in attack.
The Blues don’t need to sign another €100 million attacker in this summer transfer window.
Even though the likes of Hakim Ziyech, Christian Pulisic, and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang may leave in the summer.
Still, the West London club doesn’t really need Felix. They have better positions to spend their money on than the attack.
Transfer-wise, Chelsea chose to spend massively in January, signing Mudryk and Madueke so as to avoid competition in the summer.
Apparently, Joao brings creativity to the team, creating chances and spotting wide spaces.
On the contrary, they have players who have the ability to dictate the team’s attack, very creative in offense.
Even though the 23-year-old Portuguese is flawlessly creative. He’s not Christian Eriksen of Manchester United or Kevin De Bruyne.
As a result, what he adds to the team’s offensive performance can be done by other attackers in the squad.
Felix is more like Mateo Kovacic, with a high level of offensive quality but not really productive. As a result, he’s very irreplaceable.
At Atletico Madrid, the player is neither a creator nor a finisher. Therefore, Chelsea don’t really need him next campaign.
Signing Felix permanently will require massive wages and fees. Meanwhile, there are many questions related to his long-term fitness.
He’s a player with high potential. However, he doesn’t really tick all the boxes as an elite attacker.
Can Chelsea accommodate both Joao Felix and Christopher Nkunku?
The two ballers have many things in common in terms of their offensiveness in attack.
Signing Joao permanently means there won’t be a need to get a central forward in the summer transfer window.
Reportedly, the West London club are most likely to sign Victor Osimhen of Napoli next campaign.
Accommodating both Felix and Nkunku under Graham Potter won’t leave room for a striker.
Since the two players have many things in common, as regards their styles of play. It’s not wise to accommodate both.
Christopher Nkunku is somehow better than the Portuguese. Because he’s a better finisher and an elite creator.
As a result, the Frenchman alone is enough to replace Felix at Chelsea next campaign, meaning there is no need to sign him permanently.
In case of accommodating both attackers, Joao can comfortably play behind the striker, while Nkunku plays as a false No.9.
Graham Potter is currently managing 33 players at Stamford Bridge, giving him headaches over how to make them gel with one another.
Therefore, adding many new players to the squad next campaign would be useless. That being said, Felix should return to La Liga.
What are the reasons why Chelsea shouldn’t sign Joao Felix permanently?
Everything the player offers revolve around creativity, and that isn’t even good enough. Hakim Ziyech averages more key passes than him.
The 23-year-old Portuguese doesn’t get into dangerous positions on the pitch, even though he seems like an elite attacker.
Joao was at his best against Fulham and West Ham United in the Premier League. Nevertheless, he doesn’t worth it.
In his 400 minutes so far, Felix made just 4 key passes with 0 chances created. Of course, the Blues cannot bet their attack on him.
Also, missed chances; the player has missed many chances for Graham Potter’s men, even though he arrived in January.
Against Borussia Dortmund in the UEFA Champions League. The 23-year-old attacker alone had many poor off-ball movements.
At the same time, his defensive contribution. Felix doesn’t add anything to the team’s defensive performance.
It would be crazy to spend €100 million on him. He doesn’t have the intensity to succeed in the Premier League.
Chelsea already have enough brilliant attackers in their squad. Along with Enzo Fernández, controlling the midfield.
A new standard defensive midfielder is enough to balance the team’s defensive and offensive displays.
With the likes of Mudryk, Madueke, and others in the squad. Felix isn’t the missing piece to the Blues’ gap in the attack.