Chelsea have been told they will have to smash their own club-record transfer to sign Joao Felix permanently in the summer transfer window. The Portuguese forward joined the club on loan last month for the remainder of the season, hopeful of adding some quality to the front line.
Felix showed glimpses of that in his debut against Fulham at Craven Cottage, causing the hosts plenty of problems without finding a finishing touch. With his eagerness to impress came some rashness that ultimately led to a straight red card and a resulting three-match ban.
"All of them will be learning moments," Graham Potter said on the striker after the game. "Joao is a young player, a top player, you could see the quality he brought to the game. I didn’t see any malice in the challenge at all. It was a little bit high of course but the referee then has a decision to make. He’ll learn from it."
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The debut mistake aside, the 23-year-old has plenty of quality and potential to fill and while the loan move raised some eyebrows, a permanent switch may not be too far off. That could depend on a number of factors, such as his performances in the next few months, other transfer targets and the price tag set on him.
Well the Blues may have an early glimpse into the asking price set by Atleti before the summer window, with Mundo Deportivo reporting a deal would cost €140million (£124.5million). It's a huge price set on a player that was the club's record transfer, though it's clear that he may not fit Diego Simeone's style.
With Chelsea in need of a striker, it could be a hefty investment that works in their favour, though his role is closer to that of a Kai Havertz than a traditional No.9. It remains to be seen if the Blues will try and make a deal work or dwindle the price tag set, but they certainly have a marker for where negotiations will start.
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