Graeme Souness delivers his verdict on Chelsea signing Joao Felix this summer
Graeme Souness has just given his opinion on Chelsea’s deal to sign Joao Felix from Atletico Madrid this summer.
Chelsea confirmed earlier this week that Portuguese attacker Joao Felix, 24, has signed for them on a permanent basis. He’s back at Stamford Bridge after previously spending a brief loan spell with them back in 2023.
It’s been claimed by The Athletic that Chelsea sources believe the Felix signing was essential, largely down to a lack of attacking output from others players in the Blues squad. Of course, everybody knows there was an over-reliance on Cole Palmer last season.
Felix impressed during a loan spell at Barcelona last term without really catching fire in front of goal, scoring 10 goals and making six assists in 44 appearances.
- READ MORE: Enzo Maresca shares one thing in particular he loves about new Chelsea signing Joao Felix
Graeme Souness verdict on Joao Felix signing
Graeme Souness has reacted to Chelsea’s £45m deal (BBC) for Felix by suggesting that it wasn’t really necessary. Instead, he put forward Napoli striker Victor Osimhen as a target that makes a lot more sense for them.
Souness wrote in The Daily Mail: “Maybe, instead of paying the small matter of £45m for Joao Felix, who is easy on the eye but gets you one goal in four, they would have been better served keeping all their powder dry and saving for a 25-goal-a-season man. But then money isn’t a problem for Chelsea is it?
“They want Victor Osimhen who is circa £100million to buy. And, of course, he’s going to accept the average £80,000-a-week salary too, just like the rest of them…”
Incidentally, Napoli’s Osimhen has been strongly linked with a potential switch to the Bridge in this summer window. The Athletic reported a couple of days ago Chelsea’s chances of signing Osimhen were remote.
Joao Felix has finally found a settled home
It’s been a turbulent time for Felix in the last couple of years with lots of moving around, so let’s hope this permanent transfer is the start of him kicking on in his career.
There’s no doubt that the versatile forward has supreme talent. However, he now needs to find consistency in a team and a settled position.
Chelsea’s options in the final third of the pitch present a huge puzzle for head coach Enzo Maresca to work out, but it’s a luxury that he should enjoy. Is there a way for creative stars such as Felix, Palmer and Christopher Nkunku to thrive in the same starting line-up?
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