Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur face a major roadblock in the pursuit to sign Joao Felix this summer. The north London rivals have been alerted to the availability of the 22-year-old, with Diego Simeone having reportedly changed his stance on the Atletico Madrid star.
Felix was considered untouchable by the Spanish giants earlier this season, but the Argentinian seems to have had second thoughts. And, with both Mikel Arteta and Antonio Conte in the market to bolster their respective frontlines, the Portugal international has emerged as an exciting option.
According to BarcaTimes, the youngster is no longer considered 'non-transferable' by Simeone and the Felix's agent is in contact with a number of clubs - one of whom is said to be Paris Saint-Germain. His departure 'isn't ruled out', and should a suitable offer arrive, Atletico might not stand in his way through the exit door.
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However, while Atletico may eventually sanction a move to the Premier League for Felix, the Portuguese forward doesn't seem so keen, handing Arsenal and Spurs a huge blow in their efforts. In an interview with Spanish outlet Marca, Felix explained how his dream is to play for Europe's biggest clubs - specifically in Spain.
"My dream has always been to play for the biggest clubs in Europe," he said. "Spain or England? I would prefer to play in Spain."
Felix was heavily linked with a move to White Hart Lane in 2019 prior to securing an eye-watering £114million move to Atletico, where he became the world's fourth most expensive player behind Kylian Mbappe, Neymar and Philippe Coutinho. And, just days after penning a deal at the Wanda Metropolitano, he was asked whether a move to Tottenham could be on the cards in the future. He replied: "I don't know, maybe one day."
The Portuguese forward would be a much-welcome addition to the Premier League, arming any side with flair, creative intuition and an excellent ability to lift fans from their seats. And, at just 22, Felix is waiting for somebody to unlock his world-leading potential.
So, Atletico could demand as much as £103.7million for the striker, according to CIES Football Observatory, though it'd still be a significant loss on their initial investment. To that end, the Express are reporting that the Spurs may be willing to include Giovani Lo Celso, who enjoyed an impressive loan spell at Villarreal last season, as part of any deal involving Felix.
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