Chelsea are expected to beat Arsenal and Manchester United to the signature of Atletico Madrid forward Joao Felix, according to multiple reports.
The Blues are set to pay an €11m (£9.7m) loan fee, in addition to his €6m (£5.29m) a year salary, to take him for the rest of the season.
While the Gunners were said to be in talks to sign Felix, the majority of supporters on Twitter are glad that the club didn’t pay through the nose to get him:
Felix is definitely really talented but he hasn't done anything to justify his price tag. It is a waste of money regardless how good the loan turns out to be because there is no guarantee to sign him permanently
— Arhum Sultan (@arhumsultan1) January 9, 2023
Chelsea are way too desperate now ….paying 11m for a loan player then covering all the wages too. Ohhhhhh boy they seem desperate.
— edwin aaron (@Hogwarts433) January 9, 2023
His wages were biggest issue for me. We can resign Saka and Saliba for his wages
— Nick Findlay (@NF59169319) January 9, 2023
Fact. It's outrageous to pay such amount for just 4.5months. we don't do short term.
— Miracle Oghene (@MiracleOghene2) January 9, 2023
if we signed felix it would’ve been over nketiah, all his confidence would be lost. plus jesus is back in a month so not signing was the right move
— bean💥 (@sleepyybean) January 9, 2023
He would have been a good addition but not for 11m+ wages, hell nah. It’s okay, you’ll come to the Emirates soon and we’ll show you how our project is going.
— Yannick Doumbe (@YannickDoumbe) January 9, 2023
I would say this is good news. Have Chelsea been told another target wants to join a certain team in red!!
— Stuart Taylor (@s_taylor46) January 9, 2023
There is an argument to say that Mikel Arteta’s side could have done with bringing in someone like Felix, who could add extra firepower to the team’s forward line with Gabriel Jesus out injured.
However, with Arsenal said to be closing in on a deal for Shakhtar Donetsk winger Mykhaylo Mudryk, it does look as if the Gunners will still be recruiting some reinforcements as they look to maintain their advantage at the top of the Premier League.