Transfers
Why parent club are annoyed with Chelsea star’s loan as £88m transfer decision made

Atletico Madrid have been left annoyed by how Joao Felix’s loan move has turned out, with talks having already taken place with Chelsea over how much a summer transfer would cost, according to reports.
The 23-year-old joined Chelsea on a six-month loan spell back in January after wanting a new environment following a breakdown in relationship with Atletico boss Diego Simeone.
Felix has impressed in parts but has failed to make a substantial impact, scoring just three goals from 13 Premier League appearances, with the most recent coming in Chelsea’s 3-1 win against AFC Bournemouth on Saturday as he tapped home from close range.
At this moment in time, Felix will return to Atletico in the summer once his loan deal concludes, and his parent club are unhappy with his Chelsea loan spell.
According to AS, as relayed by Sport Witness, a source from Atletico said: “He didn’t go to Chelsea for this.”
It’s suggested that Felix is happy at Chelsea and believes the arrival of the next head coach, which is expected to be Mauricio Pochettino, could benefit him.
Atletico ‘are not optimistic’ of receiving ‘convincing offers’ for the Portugal international to enable a permanent transfer.
Chelsea have already held talks with the Spanish side over what it would take to keep hold of Felix should expected incoming boss Pochettino want to retain him for next season, according to Nizaar Kinsella of the Evening Standard.
It’s claimed that ‘after a series of calls’, Atletico Madrid are still requesting £88 million if Felix is to be sold permanently, while another fee of £16 million would be demanded if Chelsea wanted to re-sign him on loan.
The Blues are reluctant to meet Atletico’s asking prices for either permanent or loan deal, and have ‘expressed their desire’ to reduce the valuations through swap deals amid interest from Atletico in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Marc Cucurella.
Chelsea are planning a squad overhaul this summer to trim their bloated 30-plus man squad ahead of the 2023/24 season.
Christopher Nkunku will join Chelsea in the summer from RB Leipzig and a revamp of the club’s attack is expected, with the likes of Christian Pulisic, Hakim Ziyech, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Aubameyang all reportedly expected to be allowed to leave. Last week, Aubameyang expressed his desire to re-join Barcelona this summer.
The final decision will, ultimately, come down to Pochettino over whether or not Chelsea make a concrete move for Felix. But should the asking price not lower in the coming weeks and months, it looks likely that he will not remain for a second spell.