- Chelsea have agreed a deal to sign Atletico Madrid forward Joao Felix
- The Blues have also agreed personal terms with Felix ahead of potential return
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Chelsea have agreed a deal to sign Joao Felix from Atletico Madrid, further complicating Raheem Sterling‘s position at the club after he already found himself falling down the pecking order on the left wing.
The 29-year-old England international, who is under contract until 2027, was squeezed out of Enzo Maresca‘s squad for Sunday’s loss to Manchester City as new signing Pedro Neto, Christopher Nkunku and Mykhailo Mudryk were selected instead.
Sources in Spain have suggested the fee for Felix is €45million (£38.4m) plus €5m (£4.3m) in add-ons, though Chelsea insiders have not yet stood up that figure. He has agreed a six-year contract with the option of an additional 12 months, having previously spent time on loan at Stamford Bridge.
The arrival of the 24-year-old is likely to unlock Conor Gallagher’s move to Atletico in a separate deal after his switch was stalled last week when Samu Omorodion’s own transfer collapsed. The fee for Gallagher is set to remain at the previously agreed €40m (£34.1m).
Yet Sterling can now only wonder what his own future holds ahead of returning to Cobham on Tuesday, with the players having a pre-planned day off on Monday following their 2-0 defeat by City.
Chelsea are close to finalising a deal to sign forward Joao Felix from Atletico Madrid
New Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca could soon have Felix to add to his attacking options
Felix spent last season on loan at Barcelona but could now leave Atletico permanently
Maresca explained to Sterling after training on Friday that he was facing stiff competition from incoming signings, hence his upcoming omission from the squad on Sunday.
Chelsea’s head coach explained it was a ‘technical decision’ and one he made himself.
Sterling’s camp asked the club for clarification on his future in a statement revealed by Mail Sport and now, the club’s sizable squad is set to make a mega-money addition in his favoured position.
Chelsea still have significant work to do in this transfer…