Joao Felix to suffer immediate Chelsea blow as Enzo Maresca makes transfer breakthrough

Joao Felix could be handed an immediate blow upon his Chelsea this summer, given his preferred shirt number is already taken.

The Portuguese star is reportedly closing in on a move back to Stamford Bridge, with reports having detailed the talks are entering the ‘final stages’.

A fee in the region of £40million is expected to be paid by the two-time European champions – just under one-third the amount Atletico Madrid paid for Felix in 2019.

Chelsea have thrown their weight behind the move, with it reported a whopping six-year contract is on the table for Felix and the option for an additional 12 months.

If he stayed for the duration of the deal, it would mean he was still playing for Chelsea well into his thirties.

Felix spent six months on loan at Chelsea during the 2022/23 season, making 20 appearances across all competitions and scoring four goals.

However, the shirt number he wore during his first spell with the Blues is already being used by another player – Noni Madueke.

In another blow for the winger, the number seven shirt, which he’s previously donned at both Atletico Madrid, is also currently in use as well.

Raheem Sterling is the culprit this time, but things could be made easier for Felix if Chelsea are able to shift players off their books between now and this month’s deadline.

Sterling was left out of Chelsea’s matchday squad for the weekend defeat to Manchester City, with the Englishman’s entourage unhappy about the omission.

On Sterling’s absence, a statement from Chelsea’s team read: “Our expectation was that Raheem would be involved in this weekend’s fixture in some capacity. As a camp, we have always had positive dialogue with, and assurance from, Chelsea FC in relation to Raheem’s future at the club, so we look forward to gaining clarity on the situation.”

It’s suggested the ex-Liverpool and City star could be one of the players Chelsea look to move on this summer, with some reports claiming he’s already been offered to Juventus and Bayern Munich.

Elsewhere, the other player currently occupying one of Felix’s preferred shirt numbers is also being touted with a move away from the capital club.

Madueke has been linked to a Chelsea exit this summer, with the Blues reportedly believing they could bag upwards of £60million from his departure.

The England under-21 star arrived at Chelsea from PSV Eindhoven for £29million in January 2023, but has failed to find his feet in west London so far.

Chelsea return to action in mid-week for a Europa Conference League tie against Swiss side Servette, before a trip to Molineux to play Wolves in the Premier League next weekend.