How the Joao Felix and Conor Gallagher transfer is connected

Following a proposed move for Joao Felix by Chelsea reports on how the transfer could also be linked to Conor Gallagher have been revealed.

Chelsea's active transfer window has taken an unexpected turn after Samu Omorodion's move was abruptly called off, and the club was presented with an opportunity to re-sign Joao Felix from Atletico Madrid.

According to Telegraph Sport, Joao Felix himself has expressed a strong desire to return to Chelsea, where he spent half of the 2023 season on loan with him willing to accept a significant pay cut to align with Chelsea's wage structure.

Chelsea could potentially secure Felix for an initial fee of under £40 million, a deal that might be too appealing for the club to reject. Atletico Madrid is under pressure to offload players to finance the acquisitions of Conor Gallagher from Chelsea and Julian Alvarez from Manchester City.

If Chelsea completes the signing of Felix, who has also attracted interest from Aston Villa this summer, it could cast doubt on Raheem Sterling's future at the club. Juventus has already reached out to Chelsea to explore the possibility of signing Sterling. However, his substantial weekly wages, exceeding £300,000, could be a significant hurdle. Nevertheless, there is speculation that the former England international might leave Stamford Bridge before the transfer window closes.

Why Conor Gallagher's move to Atletico Madrid could collapse

The completion of Gallagher's transfer to Atletico Madrid depends on the successful sale of Felix. If Felix moves to Chelsea, it would directly facilitate Gallagher's move to Atletico due to their financial interdependence.

Felix's potential arrival would not alter Chelsea's pursuit of a primary striker before the window closes. Although a deal for Omorodion had been finalized with Atletico, the player, and his agent, it fell through at the last moment. There is no current expectation for the deal to be revived or renegotiated, and Chelsea is now exploring other options. The club remains interested in Victor Osimhen if a loan deal becomes possible, and they anticipate other opportunities to emerge in the final weeks of the window.

Chelsea is optimistic that head coach Enzo Maresca will have a manageable first-team squad size by the time the transfer window shuts. The club aims to have around 23 or 24 outfield players, with several players expected to depart either permanently or on loan.

During his previous loan spell at Chelsea in 2023, Felix scored four goals in 20 appearances. He spent the last season on loan at Barcelona, where he scored 10 goals in 44 appearances.

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