Man City boss Pep Guardiola ‘wants’ £114m attacker at Etihad despite Alvarez, Haaland signings
According to reports, Atletico Madrid are willing to trade Joao Felix, with Manchester City and Tottenham also interested.
In 2019, the Spanish club broke their transfer record by signing Felix from Benfica for roughly £114 million.
The previous record holder was French international Thomas Lemar, who was signed for almost £64 million a year ago.
Felix has failed to live up to his high price tag, and despite a good season in 2021/22, Atletico Madrid are willing to let him go this summer.
Manchester City have surfaced as a prospective destination for the Portuguese prodigy, and he is unlikely to be short of attention.
Despite the recent arrivals of Erling Haaland and Julian Alvarez, City boss Pep Guardiola ‘wants’ to sign the attacker, according to Bruno Andrade.
However, their pursuit of Felix is thought to be contingent on the futures of Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling.
Benfica have done some fantastic outgoing business since 2017/18! 👊
— Stats24 (@_Stats24) June 15, 2022
🇵🇹Joao Felix: £114m
🇺🇾Darwin Nunez: Initial £65m
🇵🇹Ruben Dias: £61m
🇧🇷Ederson: £36m
🇲🇽Raul Jimenez: £34m
🇵🇹Nelson Semedo: £32m
🇸🇪Victor Lindelof: £31.5m
…..
Superb talent identification 🔥 pic.twitter.com/dLU6lfaBBW
Jesus has been extensively linked with a move to Arsenal, and his exit appears to be imminent.
Sterling, on the other hand, is garnering interest from Chelsea, who may make a bid for the England forward if they are unable to sign Barcelona’s Ousmane Dembele.
Guardiola must create some space by selling one or two attackers, but also considering financial fair play.
Shay Lugassi, the chief editor of BarcaTimes, broke the news that Atletico Madrid is willing to sell Felix.
Lugassi wrote on Twitter: “Joao Felix has been offered to PSG and a number of other clubs. Diego Simeone does not consider the player non-transferable and his agent is in contact with a number of clubs. Departure is NOT ruled out.”
According to the Daily Express, Tottenham have been ‘alerted’ by this story and are prepared to offer Giovani Lo Celso as a makeweight in a deal (via TEAMtalk).
The CIES Football Observatory values Felix at £103.7 million, three years after he cost more than £114 million.
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Man City boss Pep Guardiola ‘wants’ £114m attacker at Manchester City despite Alvarez, Haaland signings
