Chelsea’s talks with Joao Felix progressing

Chelsea are making progress over the permanent signing of on-loan attacker Joao Felix this summer, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.

The Lowdown: Felix impressing at Chelsea

The Portuguese joined the Blues during the January transfer window, as he looks to kick his career back into gear after a disappointing spell at Atletico Madrid.

Felix has struggled to become a consistently key part of Diego Simeone’s plans in Spain and a loan move looked like the best option for all parties at the beginning of the year.

Since coming in at Chelsea, the 23-year-old has looked like a class act, not necessarily always delivering end product but catching the eye with his technical quality.

Felix does now have two goals in seven appearances in the Premier League, though, having found the back of the net with a clinical finish in Saturday’s 2-2 draw at home to Everton.

Chelsea seem keen to turn his move from a temporary switch into a permanent transfer, and a positive update has emerged, in that respect.

The Latest: Permanent move progressing

Writing for Give Me Sport, Jones said that the Blues’ feelings towards signing Felix permanently are ‘becoming more clear’, with ‘further talks’ planned for next month.

He is described as a ‘breath of fresh air’ at the training ground and those high up at Chelsea are now ‘beginning to mastermind a plan on how they could integrate him permanently into their plans’.

The Verdict: No-brainer for Blues

Felix has always been a massive talent, winning the prestigious European Golden Boy award back in 2019, and his quality has been clear to see at Stamford Bridge.

The four-goal Portugal international has simply looked a happier player than he did at Atletico, where Simeone’s defensive style has arguably held him back too often.

Chelsea should do all they can to sign Felix permanently at the end of the season, with Alvaro Morata hailing him as a ‘special’ footballer and his best years still highly likely to be ahead of him.

As he continues to adjust to Graham Potter’s playing style and his new teammates, he should only improve further, with the Champions League allowing him a great chance to further prove his worth, ahead of a mouthwatering quarter-final tie for Real Madrid.

Perhaps most importantly, Felix appears to be enjoying his time at Chelsea and doesn’t want to return to Atletico, so the idea of him moving there for good this summer feels like a match made in heaven.