Newcastle United are reportedly interested in a summer swoop for Atletico Madrid attacker Joao Felix.
The Portugal international, 23, is Atletico Madrid’s record signing after joining from Benfica in 2019 for a mammoth £113m, but he has fallen out of favour after falling out with manager Diego Simeone last year. The forward joined Chelsea on a six-month loan in January, where he scored four goals in 16 Premier League appearances for the struggling Blues.
Having returned to Atletico Madrid after the expiry of his Chelsea loan, he is at a crossroads in the Spanish capital and a departure looks the likely outcome this summer.
According to Spanish publication ABC, Joao Felix is keen to move on again and has attracted interest from clubs such as Newcastle United, Manchester United and Aston Villa. The player has asked his agent Jorge Mendes to secure a move away from Atletico Madrid, although he only wants to move to a club playing in the Champions League.
The report adds that a loan deal is most likely again as Felix’s stock has plummeted considerably, so Rojiblancos hope a temporary move would see his price rise again for a potential future sale.
Joao Felix to Newcastle United—Solid addition to Eddie Howe’s squad?
Newcastle United will be competing in the Champions League this season. They will need quality players in the squad to perform well in Europe’s most elite competition as well as challenge for a top-four spot once again in the Premier League.
The Magpies have created headlines of late by signing Italy international Sandro Tonali from AC Milan. After strengthening the midfield unit, Eddie Howe must now look to add more attacking impetus to his side. Callum Wilson, Alexander Isak and Miguel Almiron consistently scored goals last season, but with the club set to welcome Champions League nights at St James’ Park, Howe must sign a top-quality forward who can hit the ground running.
One man who is on the hunt for a move away from Atletico Madrid is Joao Felix, who has been linked with a move to Newcastle. Felix scored four goals in 16 Premier League appearances for Chelsea on loan in the second half of last season. The Portuguese showed flashes of genuine quality but nowhere near enough to convince Chelsea to re-sign him.
However, one could argue that the Blues were royally struggling as a team and didn’t have proper patterns of play, and as a result, the benefit of the doubt has to be given to Felix, who at times looked head and shoulders above his Chelsea teammates.
In a well-drilled Newcastle team that is on an upward trajectory, Joao Felix should thrive. He could fit well in as a No.10 and pull the strings for Eddie Howe’s side, as well as play on the left flank or as a false 9 when required. The Portugal international could potentially create a formidable partnership with the likes of Almiron, Isak and Wilson up front and add vital squad depth.
A player of Felix’s direct and effervescent profile would do a world of good for the Magpies. Thus, if Newcastle can succeed in signing him on loan with an option to buy, it would represent a coup of sorts following Tonali’s high-profile acquisition.