Chelsea are ramping up their attempts to bring in players for Graham Potter in January and have turned their attention to Joao Felix. With Armando Broja injured until the end of the season at least there is a new hole in squad to be filled.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is 33 and has only scored one in the league whilst Kai Havertz is yet to score a league goal with his feet this season. Broja had only got one himself but had played much less comparatively and was often used as a substitute.
With Todd Boehly also trying to bring in new defenders and midfielders there is a need for cheaper options and solutions to be used as well in order to spread the cost of a major squad overhaul. One of the ways to do this is by using the loan market and Atletico Madrid star Felix is the man in the spotlight.
READ MORE: Graham Potter meets Behdad Eghbali ahead of transfer window and explains what has changed
The 23-year-old was part of Fernando Santos' Portugal side that reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup before being dumped out at the hands of Morocco. His dazzling display in the last-16 tie against Switzerland was a demonstration of his skills though, and may have caught the eyes of Chelsea once more.
Felix has been a long-term target for the club but moved to Atletico Madrid in 2019 for over £100million. He was a hot prospect as a teenager but has only managed 33 goals in three seasons in Spain and has struggled in the largely defensive set-up of Diego Simeone.
The pair's feelings towards each other have even been publicly questioned, with CEO Gil Marin saying: "Joao Felix has top level but because of his relationship with Simeone and game time… we feel that makes sense to consider potential bids to sell him."
Felix himself has been honest and hit back against his Argentine coach. After the 6-1 win he said: "The way of playing with Portugal and then at the club is different. When the conditions are favourable, things go better."
Now, with over three years left on his current deal, Chelsea are back in the mix and the Telegraph are reporting that the Blues are considering a loan move in January for the player. Given his poor standing in Madrid there isn't the aim of recouping the price paid for him three years ago, but Chelsea are considering a deal that includes an option to buy in the summer depending on the price.
Arsenal have previously been linked with Felix, and the Blues could face competition from Manchester United following Cristiano Ronaldo's exit from the club in December. However, Erik ten Hag's side have been strongly linked with a move for Cody Gakpo in recent days.
READ NEXT:
Sterling's new look, youngsters involved: Things spotted in Chelsea training before Bournemouth
Chelsea's January transfer priority is now clear as Graham Potter confirms N'Golo Kante bad news
Chelsea set to seal three transfers before January after medical completed for £80m spend
Todd Boehly risks repeating same Chelsea mistakes with ground-breaking £30m transfer coup
Chelsea news and transfers LIVE: All the latest news, rumours and gossip from Stamford Bridge
