Atletico Madrid’s club-record signing Joao Felix is reportedly close to joining Chelsea on loan in January, while Mykhaylo Mudryk is the target for Arsenal.
After winning the European Golden Boy award with Benfica, Felix, 23, was signed by Atletico in 2019 for €126 million, breaking Thomas Lemar’s previous transfer record by more than €50 million.
Felix has scored 33 goals for his new team, but despite this, he has struggled to maintain a spot in their starting lineup, making seven of his 12 LaLiga appearances this season as a substitute.
Having made such a substantial investment, Atletico are not willing to sell him at a massive loss just yet, and while they have made him available for transfer, a loan move to rehabilitate his value appears far more likely.
Chelsea have been actively seeking reinforcements up front, but with significant investment also planned in defence, a cheaper loan deal could be the band-aid solution for their goalscoring issues.
The Telegraph is reporting Chelsea and Atletico are deep in discussions about a deal that would involve either an option or an obligation to turn the loan into a permanent move at the conclusion of the season.
ESPN added Atletico will also demand a loan fee in the range of €9m for the half-season rental.
It remains to be seen if Chelsea can afford to secure a quality forward option in January on a permanent basis, with Fabrizio Romano reporting they are also in the final stages of negotiations for a €35m purchase of 21-year-old Monaco center-back Benoit Badiashile.
ROUND-UP
– According to CBS, Cristiano Ronaldo has a medical scheduled with Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr ahead of signing a contract that will pay him €70m per year.
– The Telegraph is reporting Arsenal have submitted a £55m bid for 21-year-old Shakhtar Donetsk winger Mykhaylo Mudryk.
– Napoli will look to sign 26-year-old Wolves winger Adama Traore in January as he enters the final six months of his contract, per Calciomercato.
– The Daily Mail is reporting Everton are one of a number of Premier League clubs showing interest in 20-year-old Manchester United winger Anthony Elanga.
– According to journalist Ekrem Konur, Premier League teams including West Ham, Everton and Aston Villa are considering offers for 28-year-old Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic.