Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher rip into Chelsea as Joao Felix transfer questioned

Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher blasted Chelsea’s owners after reports Joao Felix is set to become the club’s latest signing.

Felix is on the verge of penning a deal with the capital club, with a deal expected to be in the region of £40million.

The Portuguese star spent six months on loan at Chelsea two seasons ago, making 20 appearances and scoring four goals.

But he’s set to be just one of several new faces in the Chelsea squad, with Neville left perplexed by the Blues’ scatter-gun approach in the market.

Neville told Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football: “There are certain things that are happening that are wrong to help cover up the errors that have been made previously to allow them to sign more players.

“They have signed a lot of young players that are talented that are on long contracts. You don’t need to sign a player on nine years to control them. You don’t, you genuinely don’t.

“The reason you don’t is, if the player fails you will need to get rid of him and that could be difficult. If the player succeeds, the player will want a new contract on the money they will earn anyway, regardless of if it’s four years or nine years left.”

Before finishing up with: “I want to know what Chelsea owners know that everyone else doesn’t, the long-term contract thing I don’t get it, if they’re successful then you’ll have to keep upgrading the contract and if they fail it’s hard to get them out”

Carragher continued the pile on, adding: “You’re asking where Joao Felix is going to play. Do you know what I want to ask you? Where is he getting changed at the training ground? I’m deadly serious.”

Before later saying: “I don’t know why any player would at Chelsea and sign for them, the only reason could be is their agent is saying we’re getting a seven-year deal on big money, that’s guaranteed money for seven years.

“You know what I’d say? Back yourself as a player. Sign a four-year deal at a proper club and back yourself to do well and when you’re due for a renewal, your money goes up anyway.

“I don’t understand why players are signing seven-year deals… part of what, it’s not a young and exciting team.”

He continued: “They’ve bought Joao Felix, right? Tell me where he’s going to play. They signed Pedro Neto a week ago, where’s he going to play when they’ve already got Cole Palmer?

“Where do you play Enzo Fernandez, a £100million player? Where do you play Christopher Nkunku?”

Chelsea lost their season opener versus Manchester City on Sunday, but will get an immediate chance to bounce back against Servette in the Europa Conference League on Thursday night.