Chelsea have been handed a major transfer boost for one of their attacking targets as Graham Potter plans an overhaul at Stamford Bridge. The new manager has been flexible with the way in which he lines up but hasn't gotten the best out of his options yet.
Thomas Tuchel also fell short of seeing his expensively assembled forward line produce consistently, and the challenge now lands at Todd Boehly's door to deal with it. The American co-owner has a war chest to hand Potter in 2023, and they may well have a chance at one of their previous targets.
Having chased to sign Joao Felix from Benfica back in 2019 before he joined Atletico Madrid, the Portugal international could be back on the list for Potter's new-look Chelsea. The 23-year-old hasn't reached the levels that many predicted of him as a talented teenager, but his goal at the World Cup against Ghana proved to be a reminder of the player that he could still become.
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Felix has 33 goals in 129 games for Madrid and hasn't found the pragmatic style of Diego Simeone suited to his own flexibility and expressive play. In a similar nature to Kai Havertz at Chelsea, there have been flashes in Spain but not enough for someone who cost £120m.
His contract doesn't run out until 2026, but after retaining his place for Fernando Santos in Qatar - holding off the competition from Rafael Leao and also seeing off Cristiano Ronaldo - Felix is still a player that top European clubs value, including Chelsea who have looked at him again since 2020.
There's also a chance for the deal to become a reality as Atletico Madrid CEO Gil Marin revealed his complex situation. “João Felix has top level," he explained. "But because of his relationship with Simeone and game time… we feel that makes sense to consider potential bids to sell him."
Felix has only played 501 minutes across 12 matches for his club in La Liga this season, scoring three times and assisting another three too. His future is far from clear though, and Marin added, "I’d love for João to continue, but this is the current situation."
Chelsea have their own uncertainty when it comes to forward players next year. Hakim Ziyech and Christian Pulisic - both of whom have done their values some good at the World Cup - wanted to leave over the summer and haven't managed to push themselves into Potter's immediate plans, meanwhile, Havertz faces an important six months of club football upon his return at Stamford Bridge.
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