Aston Villa are in the driving seat to sign Atletico Madrid star Joao Felix
According to Daily Mail, Premier League side Aston Villa are leading the race to sign Atletico Madrid star Joao Felix in the ongoing summer transfer window.
The Portuguese international won the prestigious Golden Boy award in 2019 and was expected to take the footballing world by storm. A big-money move to Spain in 2019 did little to temper expectations but Felix has if anything been more of a miss than a hit.
Still just 23, the youngster has fallen out of favour with Diego Simeone and spent the second half of the 2022/23 season on loan at Chelsea. A chance to get his carer back on track got off to a poor start, as he got sent off on his debut for the Blues. The rest of the campaign had little to write home as well, with the player returning to Atletico when his loan spell expired.
Felix does not appear to have a future in Spain under Simeone and is expected to make a move this summer. French giants Paris Saint-Germain have now pulled themselves out of the reckoning, paving the way for Aston Villa to land the player.
Unai Emery’s arrival has woken up a sleeping giant, and Villa Park is being privy to some excellent additions this summer. Youri Tielemans and Pau Torres have already joined the club with a bid for Moussa Diaby also in the works. The Villains are also keeping tabs on Jeremy Doku and appear to have big plans for the future.
Despite his struggles, Felix’s potential is undeniable and landing him would be nothing short of a coup for Villa. A solid second striker who can thrive in the roaming role, he could rediscover his touch under Emery.
Villa could make a loan approach for the player should a permanent agreement prove difficult. Given that his reputation has taken a beating, performing well is also a major requirement for Felix next season.
The 23-year-old and Renan Lodi were made to train with Atletico Madrid’s youth players earlier in the system, clearly showing what Simeone thinks of them. With Lodi already making the switch to Marseille, it could now be Felix’s turn to embark on a new adventure. Given the vibes and squad being put together at Villa Park, he has the chance to be a part of something truly special.
