Chelsea eye swap deal to keep Joao Felix on permanent transfer with Atletico Madrid interested in two Blues stars
CHELSEA are reportedly preparing to offer two players to Atletico Madrid in a swap deal to keep Joao Felix.
Despite a turbulent start, the Portuguese attacker has impressed since his arrival on loan in January.
Felix, 23, was sent off on his debut for a terrible challenge against Fulham in January.
However, he has now notched three goals in 13 appearances in the Premier League and has been a rare positive in a poor Chelsea season.
This has seen the Blues prepared to offer Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Marc Cucurella to the LaLiga giants in the summer, according to the Evening Standard.
The report suggests that the club are trying to “present a clear picture” for their next manager.
Former Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino is in talks to take over in the summer and is the favourite for the hot seat at Stamford Bridge.
One attempt to sign the player was on another loan deal at a cost of £16million.
But it is believed the club also want him on a permanent deal and are trying to get the price reduced by offering players in a swap deal.
Aubameyang has struggled to impress since arriving last summer and has only scored one goal in 15 league appearances.
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He was rarely used by sacked boss Graham Potter and his game time has not drastically improved since Frank Lampard took over as an interim boss.
Cucurella, however, was an expensive acquisition from Brighton last summer.
The Spaniard cost the Blues £62m but has failed to recreate the form that saw him named the Seagulls player of the season last year.
Felix has hinted at a desire to stay at the club beyond his loan move as he lifted his shirt after scoring against Bournemouth last weekend.
The Blues squad currently boasts 32 player and the new manager will have a say over trimming it down in the summer.
Stars such as Mateo Kovacic, Christian Pulisic, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Edouard Mendy, Hakim Ziyech, Conor Gallagher and Kalidou Koulibaly could all be sold.