Chelsea on the cusp of landing top transfer target as Enzo Maresca continues summer overhaul - Reports

Chelsea are reportedly on the verge of completing the signing of talented Portuguese forward Joao Felix on a permanent basis from Atletico Madrid. The Blues have been in talks with Atletico for Felix for over a week, and are set to seal his transfer, as per Fabrizio Romano.

Felix is set to leave Atletico Madrid permanently this summer after successive loan spells away from the Spanish outfit. His transfer is expected to pave the way for Los Colchoneros to complete the signing of English midfielder Conor Gallagher from the Blues.

Chelsea were in talks to sign Spanish striker Samu Omorodion as part of the deal which will take Gallagher to the Wanda Metropolitano, but that move fell through. This resulted in the club turning its attention to another player on the books of Atletico Madrid, Joao Felix.

Fabrizio Romano has reported that Enzo Maresca's side have found a total agreement with the 24-year-old on personal terms, and he is keen on joining the club. The journalist stated that Chelsea are in talks with Atleti over the structure of the deal, having reached an agreement over the fee for the forward.

Felix is a familiar player to the Stamford Bridge faithful, having made 20 appearances for the club on loan in the second half of the 2022-23 season. He scored four goals for the club in that spell before Mauricio Pochettino decided against signing him permanently.

Joao Felix featured 44 times across all competitions for Barcelona in the 2023-24 season, scoring 10 goals and assisting six more. In his Atletico Madrid career, the forward has found the net 34 times in 131 appearances. He is set to sign a six-year deal with the Blues, with the option of an additional year, as per The Athletic's David Ornstein.

Chelsea heirarchy support Enzo Maresca's decision to drop Raheem Sterling from squad to face Manchester City - Reports

Raheem Sterling was left out of the club's 20-man squad for their Premier League opener against Manchester City on Sunday, August 18, which they lost 2-0. After the Blues' squad for the fixture was released, Sterling's camp put out a statement asking for clarity about the Englishman's future.

According to Fabrizio Romano, the Chelsea board are prepared to back the decision of coach Enzo Maresca. Explaining his decision, Maresca said after the match (via India Today):

"I want Raheem Sterling, but I want all the 30 players that we have, but there is no space for all of them. So for some of them, they have to leave."

As per reports, the Englishman has been a target for Juventus this summer but saw a deal fall through over his wages.

A Premier League veteran, Sterling has failed to produce his best form since moving to Stamford Bridge in 2022 from Manchester City. The 29-year-old has recorded 14 goals and seven assists in 59 Premier League appearances for the Blues, a disappointing tally from one of their highest-paid players.