English: Media reports indicated on Monday that English club Chelsea has reached an agreement with Spanish club Atletico Madrid to sign Portuguese international Joao Felix, and the deal may witness a swap deal in which midfielder Conor Gallagher will move from the Blues to Atletico.
The same reports said Chelsea have agreed a $51 million fee with Atletico to bring the 24-year-old forward back to Stamford Bridge on a contract until 2030.
Felix spent six months on loan at Stamford Bridge in 2023 and then spent last season with Barcelona.
Felix's arrival could open the door for Gallagher, 24, to finally complete a move to Atletico after a deal for the England midfielder collapsed last week when Chelsea were unable to agree a deal for Atletico's young forward Samu Omorodion, 20.
🚨🔵 João Félix back to Chelsea, here we go! Deal in place with Atlético Madrid and his agent Jorge Mendes.
Contract until June 2030 plus option for João, as travel and medical tests being booked for next 24/48h.
Gallagher-Atléti, João-Chelsea.
Exclusive story, confirmed. 🇵🇹 pic.twitter.com/OBjy7vg58V
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 19, 2024
Atletico would have to sell Omorodion or another player to fund the transfer of Gallagher, who has been training alone since returning to Chelsea last week after being pictured in Spain ahead of a proposed $42.8 million move.
Chelsea, who started their Premier League campaign with a 2-0 defeat to four-time defending champions Manchester City on Sunday, have reportedly received an offer from Napoli for Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku.
Lukaku, 31, the Manchester United and Everton star, spent last season on loan at Roma.
Meanwhile, Raheem Sterling's future at Chelsea has been thrown into doubt after new manager Enzo Maresca said he planned to clarify the former England winger's situation in the coming days. Sterling was left out of the Blues' squad to face City and his representatives issued a statement questioning the decision.
