Aston Villa have reportedly opened negotiations with Atletico Madrid to sign wantaway forward Joao Felix in January.
Felix, 23, has started just five of Atleti’s 14 La Liga matches this campaign and has fallen out of favour entirely under boss Diego Simeone despite finding the net four times in his limited game time. Manchester United have been linked with a move for the former Benfica ace but a host of clubs are monitoring his situation.
The Portugal international has instructed his agent, Jorge Mendes, to find him a new club in January and Atletico Madrid’s CEO, Miguel Angel Gil Marin, has admitted that the club’s record signing could now be sold next month.
Felix joined the Spanish giants from Benfica in the summer of 2019 for a club-record £108million after enjoying a breakthrough season in Lisbon, bagging 20 goals and established himself as one of the hottest properties in European football.
However, he has failed to replicate that form in the Spanish capital and he has never become a regular starter for Simeone’s side throughout his three-and-a-half years at the club. He has never scored more than 10 goals in any individual campaign.
This season has seen relations between the forward and boss Simeone deteriorate as Atletico continue to struggle for form. Felix has often cut a frustrated figure while watching on from the substitutes’ bench.
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Gil Marin has told Spanish TV station TVE: "Signing him was the biggest bet the club has made in its history. I think he is a top, world-class player, but because of the relationship with the coach, his playing time, his motivation... it'd be reasonable to analyse an option for him to depart if one arrives.
"It's reasonable to think that he might leave, although I'd love him to stay. But, that's not the player's plan."
Gil Marin was also pressed on the future of Simeone, but remained coy in his response: "What will happen in the future? Neither Diego nor us know that."
United are hopeful of bolstering their attacking ranks in January following the exit of Cristiano Ronaldo, which has left Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford as the only established forwards in Erik ten Hag’s squad. However, despite their interest in Felix, it is Aston Villa who have opened negotiations, as reported by Marca.
Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain are the other clubs who have been linked to Felix, who has impressed for Portugal at this year’s World Cup.
