Chelsea are reportedly moving closer to securing a surprise reunion with Atletico Madrid forward Joao Felix.
Over the past week, a complex scenario has emerged with the transfers of Julian Alvarez, Conor Gallagher and, initially, Samu Omorodion.
For the domino effect to take place, Alvarez needs to complete his move from Manchester City to the Spanish capital, with Gallagher already in Madrid as he prepares to leave the Blues for Colchoneros.
However, on Sunday night, it emerged that Omorodion would not be completing a move to Chelsea with key details in his proposed contract unable to be signed off.
As per numerous reports, that has left Chelsea and Atletico needing to find another solution, with Diego Simeone's side having been banking on generating £34.5m from that sale.
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Felix enters the conversation
While it has been well documented that Felix is available for transfer this summer, Chelsea have not been credited with an interest in the Portugal international.
Nevertheless, as was reported by transfer expert Fabrizio Romano late on Sunday, discussions have been held over Felix making a previously-unforeseen return to Stamford Bridge.
During the 2022-23 campaign, Felix contributed four goals from his 20 appearances in all competitions, only to return to Madrid rather than remain in West London.
According to Romano, his agent Jorge Mendes is now in England's capital to negotiate his return to Chelsea, the expectation seemingly being that a transfer will soon be finalised.
Talks are said to have reached a "key stage" and will likely progress at a pace due to the Alvarez and Gallagher deals being ready to be announced.
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Important detail
Romano adds that Felix had wanted to complete a permanent transfer to Chelsea last summer in a deal that would have been backed by the club's co-owners.
Instead, Mauricio Pochettino, the new head coach at the time, allegedly insisted that he did not want to add the 24-year-old to his ranks.
Felix would later join Barcelona on a season-long loan deal, chipping in with 10 goals and six assists from his 44 appearances in all competitions.
Should a transfer be completed, it remains to be seen whether Chelsea will remain in the market for another centre-forward, with Omorodion having seemingly been targeted to add a physical presence down the middle of their attack.
Darren Plant
