Chelsea have verbally agreed a deal to bring Joao Felix from Atletico Madrid to west London to salvage their season.
The fee is believed to be in the region of €11million (£9.68m), as the Blues – currently sitting 10th in the Premier League and dumped out of the third round of the FA Cup 4-0 by Manchester City – look to kickstart the Graham Potter era with a big-name buy.
Stamford Bridge has been busy this month already. David Datro Fofana of Molde has joined in attack, while Benoit Badiashile has been signed from Monaco as defensive cover.
According to The Athletic's David Ornstein, Chelsea have stolen a march on their rivals, with Arsenal and Manchester United apparently both interested in adding Felix to their squads this month.
"A deal has not been signed," Ornstein notes, "but if all goes to plan he will be followed into the west London club by more reinforcements this month. They are especially keen to revitalise their attack."
Felix joined Atletico Madrid in 2019 for a nine-figure fee, replacing the Barcelona-bound Antoine Griezmann in the second striker role behind a more traditional No.9. But the Portuguese has struggled for consistency under Diego Simeone, with El Cholo even having to deny at one stage that he'd fallen out with his star.
With Griezmann now back in the capital, Atleti were keen to let the player leave on loan this month in order to get more game time and play himself into form. Felix played well for Portugal in spells in Qatar at the World Cup.
The Mail recently claimed that talks between Atletico and Arsenal had taken place with the Spaniards demanding €13m for the privilege of taking their No.7 on loan.
Felix is valued by Transfermarkt to be worth around €50m.
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