Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone remained coy on Joao Felix's future after the Portugal star made a scoring return for his club.
Felix, who joined Atleti for £113m in 2019, has been linked with a January loan move to the Premier League after falling down the pecking order for his club. Manchester United and Arsenal have been among the potential suitors, with the Spanish club thought to be asking for an £8m loan fee as part of any deal.
The former Benfica forward made a rare start on Thursday as the Rojiblancos returned to La Liga action after the World Cup and rewarded Simeone by breaking the deadlock against Elche. Alvaro Morata was also on target in a 2-0 victory which lifted Simeone's team back into the Champions League spots.
"While he's here, I'll try to get the best out of Joao Felix for the club," Simeone said after the victory. "Then we will see what's going to happen."
Despite Felix's relative lack of minutes, he has been productive at club level this season. He has averaged a goal contribution every 82 minutes in La Liga, scoring four and assisting three.
The start against Elche was his first in the league since September, though he was given an hour against Porto in the Champions League. Atleti finished bottom of their group with just five points from six games to drop out of Europe altogether.
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While Man United are certainly in the market for a new forward, question marks remain over a move for Felix. Cristiano Ronaldo's departure has freed up some space in the squad, but the prospect of paying the Atleti man's wages on top of an £8m loan fee could be an issue.
The Red Devils missed out on Cody Gakpo, with the Dutchman joining Liverpool, but others including Alvaro Morata and Memphis Depay continue to be linked with the club. Arsenal, meanwhile, remain set on adding a wide forward but could opt for Shakhtar Donetsk's Mykhaylo Mudryk rather than Felix.
"Talks for Mudryk are on," Shakhtar CEO Serhiy Palkin said on Thursday, with Arsenal reportedly having seen an initial deal - worth €40m plus up to €25m in add-ons - knocked back by the Ukrainian side. "We receive offers but not the ones we would like to see on our table.
"I'll speak again to Arsenal so yes, we are open to discussing fees and ideas. If we will agree, then let it be so. If we will not, then let it be another time. Now, literally in five minutes, I will have a new phone call conversation with Arsenal for the Mykhaylo Mudryk deal."
