JOAO FELIX has reportedly snubbed Manchester United and Arsenal to join Chelsea – despite the club enduring a torrid season.
It emerged earlier today that the Portuguese international is closing in on a shock move to Stamford Bridge after Chelsea verbally agreed a £10million loan for him, according to reports.
Joao Felix has become one of the most coveted stars of the January windowRex
Felix is unsettled at Atletico Madrid and is believed to be looking for a way out.
Arsenal and Man United had been strongly linked with a move for the 23-year-old attacker.
But Felix has reportedly snubbed both of them and already told his current team-mates he is moving to England.
The Athletic report Chelsea’s “project appealed” to him and was a factor in his decision.
The Daily Record also claims that the Blues are attempting to include an option to buy into Felix’s deal.
Felix joined Atletico Madrid for £113m in 2019, which is still the fourth-highest fee ever paid in football for a transfer.
But the forward’s relationship with manager Diego Simeone is believed to have deteriorated and left the star desperate for the exit door.
He was left out of the Atletico team who played Real Oviedo in the Copa del Rey earlier this week but returned to the starting line-up for defeat against Barcelona on the weekend.
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If the deal was to be completed, he would join a Chelsea side having their worst season in several years.
Yesterday’s humiliating FA Cup exit at the hands of Manchester City was just the latest crisis experienced during Graham Potter’s tenure.
The ex-Brighton boss is also dealing with a very long injury list while multiple summer signings like Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Marc Cucurella and Kalidou Koulibaly have yet to meet expectations.
The Blues are sitting 10th in the table, 10 points off a Champions League spot.
They have only won one of their last seven in all competitions.
Felix arguably faces better short-term prospects at the other Premier League clubs who are interested.
Arsenal are top of the Premier League after an extraordinary first-half of the season and could win the title for the first time since 2004.
Meanwhile, Man United are a club on the up having won their last seven games and are even being tipped for a title push themselves.