Chelsea believe that one of their summer signings is actually a huge bargain for them in the transfer market.
The pattern of signing lots of players continued in the summer window under this Chelsea ownership, although there were so many leaving in the opposite direction as well.
Blues head coach Enzo Maresca is now left with a talented squad of players at Stamford Bridge. Can he lead them back into the Champions League positions this season, though?
Chelsea’s strongest XI now the window is shut is definitely capable of doing some big things.
- READ MORE: How many players do Chelsea have? A look at the Blues’ bloated squad as transfer deadline shuts
Chelsea think Joao Felix is a bargain
Joao Felix re-signed for Chelsea last month, this time on a permanent basis. The Portuguese attacker previously spent six months on loan in west London in 2023, but the Blues paid £44.5m (The Athletic) to sign him permanently from Atletico Madrid.
The Athletic claims that Chelsea regard Felix’s summer signing as a bargain for them. When you consider he once cost Atletico £113m to sign from Benfica, his £44.5m deal feels small.
It is explained that the Blues didn’t need much convincing of moving for the 24-year-old forward after hearing about his availability this summer.
Where does Joao Felix fit in?
If there’s one red flag about Felix, it’s that Maresca has a big job on his hands trying to fit him into the starting line-up.
Paul Merson called Felix an “intelligent” footballer recently via Sky Sports. While the summer signing is supremely technical and smart in the final third, he’s another individual who’s never really been able to nail down one position.
Felix could fit into Chelsea’s XI as a left-winger, false-nine or No.10. It’s quite telling that he’s been used as an impact substitute in his first two appearances this season, though.
There may be an issue fitting the trio of Felix, Christopher Nkunku and Cole Palmer all into the same XI.
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