Former Chelsea defender Frank Leboeuf has expressed his hope that the club will sell Mason Mount and Christian Pulisic to fund a permanent transfer for Joao Felix. The Portugal international joined the Blues on loan from Atletico Madrid in January, but the deal did not include an option to buy. Felix has impressed since his arrival at Stamford Bridge, with Leboeuf hailing him as the most dangerous and artistic player at Chelsea. The ex-defender believes that Chelsea could fund the summer deal by cashing in on Pulisic and Mount, whose contract talks have stalled, with Liverpool and Manchester United expressing interest in securing his services at the end of the season.
Leboeuf’s only concern is the potential asking price for Felix, which could be up to £100m. Chelsea record signing Enzo Fernandez is also keen for Felix to stay at Stamford Bridge and has described his team-mate as a fantastic player. However, Liverpool legend Steve Nicol believes Chelsea should swerve a permanent move as they have other players who can replace Felix if he returns to Atletico.
Felix was sent off on his Premier League debut but has largely impressed since then, with almost every game he creates something. The Portugal international has suggested he is keen to extend his stay at Stamford Bridge, but Atletico Madrid could demand up to £100m for his signature. Leboeuf believes that Felix’s potential asking price is the only worry for Chelsea, but says Todd Boehly could cash in on Mount and Pulisic to fund the summer deal.
Leboeuf said: “Joao Felix is a great player. I think he’s the most dangerous player, the most entertaining player, the most artistic player at Chelsea right now. He’s been pretty consistent too, almost every game he creates something. Hopefully Chelsea will be able to sell a few players – maybe Pulisic and Mount – and can then get Felix on a permanent. It would be a lot of money, that’s the only worry for the owners. But in terms of a football player, I would sign him.”
Chelsea signed Felix on loan in January, but the deal did not include an option to buy, with Atletico Madrid confirming he had penned a one-year contract extension. Talks over a new contract for Blues academy graduate Mount have stalled, and Liverpool and Manchester United have expressed interest in securing his services at the end of the season. Pulisic has also been repeatedly linked with a move away from Chelsea given his lack of playing-time, having started just seven Premier League games this season.
Fernandez said last month: “When you get on with someone off the field it helps on the field to have that special connection. He’s a great player, isn’t he? A fantastic player. He’s got lots of ability and loads of qualities. He’s a key player for us, an important player and he’s on loan. Let’s hope that Chelsea can do all they can to keep hold of him come June, that would be great.”
However, Nicol believes that Chelsea should swerve a permanent move for Felix as they have other players who can replace him if he returns to Atletico. “Let’s be honest, they signed him in the hope he would bring end product because they didn’t have it,” Nicol said. “He’s going to cost a lot of money – it could be about £100m. So no, I wouldn’t sign him. They’ve got enough players that are doing and can do what Joao Felix has been doing. So to spend that much on another one doesn’t make sense.”