Chelsea Negotiates £40M Deal for Joao Felix Return, Eyeing Conor Gallagher's Transfer Revival to Atletico Madrid

Chelsea is actively negotiating a deal to re-sign Joao Felix from Atletico Madrid, with discussions centered around a £40 million fee plus add-ons. The Blues are keen on bringing the Portuguese forward back to Stamford Bridge, where he spent the latter half of the 2022-23 season on loan, scoring four goals in 20 appearances.

Joao Felix's Potential Return to Stamford Bridge

Joao Felix, 24, returned to Atletico Madrid after a brief loan spell with Barcelona last season. Chelsea, however, is eager to bring him back to the Premier League. If a deal is struck, it could also pave the way for the revival of Conor Gallagher's stalled transfer to Atletico Madrid.

Conor Gallagher's Future Uncertain

Gallagher, also 24, was on the verge of joining Atletico earlier this summer and even traveled to Madrid to finalize the move. However, complications arose due to Samu Omorodion's proposed transfer to Chelsea, causing Gallagher's deal to collapse at the last minute. The English midfielder has since returned to London, leaving his future in limbo.

Chelsea's manager, Enzo Maresca, commented on Gallagher's situation before the club's 2-0 defeat by Manchester City, stating, "Conor is back. He is training apart from the rest of the group. He is doing some medical tests and some training. He won't be involved in the game. At this moment, he is trying to find a solution with the club."

Additional Transfer Updates

In other transfer news, Chelsea defender Bashir Humphreys is set to undergo a medical at Burnley ahead of a season-long loan move to Turf Moor. The 20-year-old is expected to join Burnley as he seeks more first-team opportunities.