Chelsea and Jorge Mendes have held discussions about offloading Joao Felix (Image: Getty)
and super-agent Jorge Mendes are reportedly in discussions over a deadline day exit for Joao Felix.
Blues manager has used Felix sparingly in the this season, with laying claim to the No. 10 role. And the Portuguese international’s agent, Mendes, is now attempting to force through a move away from Stamford Bridge.
are admirers of Felix, but they are no longer believed to be pursuing a deal after signing and Marco Asensio on loan from and respectively. is therefore Felix’s most likely destination, and his camp are going all out to get it done.
According to , Mendes flew from Turin to London on Sunday night for face-to-face talks with chiefs. Felix’s prospective move to Milan is believed to be ‘difficult’ due to the Blues’ financial demands.
It is understood that Maresca does not want to lose the 25-year-old without at least banking a hefty loan fee. When Villa asked about signing him permanently, reportedly quoted them the same sum they paid to Atletico Madrid last summer.
Milan are about to invest in striker Santiago Gimenez, which has left them short on cash as the deadline approaches. But manager Sergio Conceicao is keen to bring Felix to the San Siro and has ‘asked the club to push again’.
Joao Felix is behind Cole Palmer in the Chelsea pecking order (Image: Getty)
‘s demands for Felix could shift if they manage to bring in a new attacker. They have been linked with United winger Alejandro Garnacho and Bayern Munich teenager Mathys Tel, although both moves would be tricky to pull off.
Felix is a former Golden Boy winner who once commanded a transfer fee, but he has only started three games this season, with the bulk of his joy coming in the UEFA Conference League.
are set for a mad dash to the transfer deadline, with a host of players in contention to move on. Axel Disasi has been linked with Villa and , Ben Chilwell is poised to join Crystal Palace and Carney Chukwuemeka is bound for Borussia Dortmund.
Christopher Nkunku’s future is also uncertain, having been linked with United and Bayern since the turn of the year. Like Felix, the forward has struggled for regular game time this season and been used by Maresca primarily in cup competitions.