The crazy rollercoaster of Chelsea in the transfer window has led them back to a familiar name in recent days.
Chelsea have been strongly linked with a move to re-sign Joao Felix in the last 48 hours.
Atletico Madrid attacker Felix, 24, previously spent half a season loan at Stamford Bridge back in 2023.
It’s now been claimed by O Jogo that Chelsea have submitted a first bid to buy Felix. The Blues offer means they could end up paying as much as £56m, but there’s no agreement reached yet between the clubs.
If the Portugal international returns to West London, where would he fit in when you consider the current squad is looking very busy? One benefit is that he’s proven in his career he’s got the versatility to play in wide or central forward positions.
Here is a look at three ways Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca could put Felix into the starting XI next season if the club sign him…
- READ MORE: What Declan Rice said about Chelsea transfer target Joao Felix when he faced him last year
Play him up front
As mentioned above, Felix can play pretty much anywhere across the attack, which includes leading the line as the central striker.
He wouldn’t provide the same kind of threat in behind or physical presence as someone like Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson, which is why this would be a risk. However, there’s no denying that Felix is an intelligent finisher around the penalty box and he knits play together superbly.
If the Atletico-owned player was starting as Chelsea’s centre-forward, you could expect him to drop into pockets to get lots of touches of the football.
Creative role in the No 10
Next, Felix definitely has the right profile to excel as a No 10 playmaker in behind a frontman.
He’s as superb technician who’s great in tight spaces and has a very high football IQ. You definitely want to give him the freedom when he steps on the pitch to express himself on the ball and get possession in-between the lines.
Unfortunately, the biggest obstacle here is that Chelsea already have Christopher Nkunku, who’s a pretty similar mould. There’s also Cole Palmer that likes to drift centrally, too.
There would be a concern that Felix and Nkunku may get in each other’s way if they’re on the same pitch at the same time.
Left wing
Finally, Felix could definitely be a great option at Chelsea on the left wing. In fact, it would be the club’s best solution if they do re-sign him this summer.
He scored 10 goals in 44 games last season during his loan at Barcelona, largely enjoying success for them as a left-winger.
It’s perhaps the one position in Chelsea’s attack with the biggest question marks around it, too.
Blues wingers Raheem Sterling and Mykhaiko Mudryk are decent options on the left, but both have failed to find any real consistency during their Stamford Bridge careers yet. Journalist Fabrizio Romano recently claimed via Playback that Chelsea are expected to sell Sterling if Felix signs.
You could make a good argument for Felix being an upgrade on Sterling or Mudryk, so from that point of view the transfer could be quite a successful one.
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