Report: Chelsea and Arsenal hold key advantage in the race to sign €100m-rated attacker | OneFootball

Chelsea and Arsenal hold key advantage in race to sign Portuguese star Joao Felix

According to Goal reporter Ruben Uria (h/t Football.London), Premier League rivals Chelsea and Arsenal hold a key advantage in the race to sign Portugal and Atletico Madrid star Joao Felix.

A few days ago, Atleti CEO Gil Martin said that the relationship between Felix and Diego Simeone is not good and the club would consider selling the player.

As per Evening Standard, the Spanish club have slapped a €100m price tag on the Portuguese star, who has had an excellent World Cup so far. He is currently preparing to face Morocco in the quarter-final.

Atleti would prefer selling Joao Felix to a Premier League club, with Arsenal and Chelsea interested. (Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images)

Atleti would prefer selling the 23-year-old to a Premier League club due to the financial advantages. It is also revealed that both Chelsea and Arsenal can afford the player’s wage demands. The latter has more financial power compared to the latter.

Felix was an exceptional player at Porto but has not been able to replicate that after moving to the Wanda Metropolitano. Maybe, Simeone’s system hasn’t suited his style of football.

In his last league season in Portugal (which was 2018/19), the forward scored 15 goals and made nine assists in 26 appearances. He hasn’t crossed the 10-goal mark since then.

In three appearances at the World Cup, he has scored a goal and assisted two and has looked good in the final third. It almost felt like the shackles are off and the freedom is offered to the player to express his high quality.

Atletico Madrid stars Joao Felix, Mario Hermoso C and Luis Suarez warm up. Copyright: BALLESTEROS GRAF6266 20210124-637471178773021945

While Arsenal would be looking to sign Felix to fill a large void left by Gabriel Jesus after picking up an injury in Qatar, Chelsea could lose Hakim Ziyech and Christian Pulisic in January itself (Evening Standard).

Moreover, the Blues have got very little out of the players in the forward line this season so far. So, an addition of proven quality at the highest stage would do no harm. When allowed to play, which Graham Potter usually does to his players, Felix is one of the best players in the world.

We would dearly love him to play for us and show what he can do when given the license to play football and not stride out to only stay behind the ball.