BREAKING NEWS: Chelsea are prepared to let go of two players to make room for Joao Felix.
Chelsea are actively working on re-signing Joao Felix to Stamford Bridge for £40 million after their deal for Samu Omorodion fell through on Sunday. Discussions have been ongoing since last night in anticipation of a potential transfer.
According to the Daily Telegraph, Noni Madueke might be leaving Chelsea following the arrival of Pedro Neto from Wolverhampton, as Enzo Maresca aims to finalize the Felix deal in the remaining days of the transfer window.
The Blues completed Neto’s signing on Sunday after their final preseason friendly, with the player committing to a contract that extends until 2031 at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea’s attacking lineup is crowded, and several new signings have yet to prove themselves after a challenging season under former manager Mauricio Pochettino. Madueke, who joined Chelsea 18 months ago for £28.5 million from PSV Eindhoven, is now on Newcastle United’s radar as they seek to bolster their attacking options.
The competition for places in Chelsea’s attack is fierce, with Sterling, Madueke, Neto, Cole Palmer, Mykhailo Mudryk, and Christopher Nkunku all vying for spots. Bringing back Felix would add another dimension, as the Portuguese international is versatile enough to play on the left wing, as a No. 10, or just behind the striker.
Felix, previously of Benfica, is reportedly eager to return to Chelsea, having enjoyed his loan spell at the club during the latter half of the 2022–23 season. Chelsea are open to facilitating his return, which could potentially see Raheem Sterling departing as well. Juventus have been linked with Sterling, but his £300k per week salary may pose a significant obstacle for the Serie A club.
Initially, Chelsea had planned to finalize Samu Omorodion’s deal after arranging a permanent move for Conor Gallagher to Atletico Madrid. However, pursuing Felix instead could complicate matters for the mentioned striker.
Atletico, having secured Julian Alvarez from Manchester City and agreed to a deal for Conor Gallagher, recognizes the necessity of additional funds to complete the Felix transfer.