Chelsea are weighing up Joao Felix’s future, with incoming head coach Mauricio Pochettino set to be key to whether the club opt to keep the 23-year-old at Stamford Bridge next season.
Felix joined Chelsea on a six-month loan in January but the deal did not include a clause to make the switch permanent this summer.
Chelsea are considering whether to move for him again and could opt to extend his loan by another season.
Atletico Madrid have not budged on the £88million asking price that they initially quoted Chelsea for Felix in January. But that figure will likely only serve as a starting point and, as first revealed by Standard Sport in February, a fee of around £68m is deemed more viable.
Chelsea are keen to trim down their 32-man squad for next season, with qualification for Europe slipping away. They will likely offer clubs swap deals in the transfer market this summer but Atletico would prefer a transfer fee to re-invest in their own squad.
The Spanish giants could, however, accept a loan deal to keep his £270,000-a-week wages off their books for another year.
They would also ask for a loan fee of around £16m for the season after charging Chelsea £11m for a six-month arrangement in January.
Atletico’s willingness to allow Felix to remain at Chelsea on either a permanent or temporary basis comes after manager Diego Simeone secured his own future for next season with a 15-game unbeaten run that ended just last week.
Felix and Simeone have a poor relationship and face being reunited if Chelsea don’t agree on a deal. The input of Pochettino, who is widely expected to take over at Chelsea in the summer, will be key.
The 51-year-old former Tottenham coach will advise on club business before his arrival in the summer.
