Joao Felix is reportedly in talks over a move back to Benfica, as Chelsea look to begin their summer clearout.
The Blues are set to focus on player sales over the coming weeks having bolstered their squad with the arrivals of Liam Delap, Joao Pedro, Estevao Willian and Jamie Gittens.
Felix has made a total of 40 appearances across two spells at Stamford Bridge
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Felix has made a total of 40 appearances across two spells at Stamford BridgeCredit: Getty
According to the Standard, the club are planning a mixture of sales and loan moves for several members of their current squad before the transfer window shuts on September 1.
With Felix not part of Chelsea's plans moving forward, the club are now seeking to sell, as they look to take his high salary off their wage bill.
The 25-year-old returned to west London in a £46.3million deal from Atletico Madrid last August, but things did not go according to plan.
He played just 12 Premier League games in the first half of the season, only three of which were starts, before joining AC Milan on loan in January in search of regular game time.
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But despite a bright start to life, Felix's time in Italy never really got going, and he now finds himself at a crossroads.
This is where Benfica could help, who want to bring the forward back to his first club six years after his departure.
Felix is said to be keen on a return to Portugal, which would see him reunite with former Wolves manager Bruno Lage, who is now in charge at the Estadio da Luiz.
Lage oversaw Felix's rise to prominence, having helped to bring him through as manager of Benfica B, before continuing as his coach in his subsequent stint as first-team manager, where the attacker first made his mark in senior football.
It has been reported that Chelsea have set a £35m asking price for the Portugal star, but that Benfica want to purchase only 50 per cent of his rights for half of this amount.
Finances are the main obstacle to a deal being completed, with Benfica president Rui Costa opening up on this last month.
Felix managed just three goals and one assist in 21 appearances for AC Milan
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Felix managed just three goals and one assist in 21 appearances for AC MilanCredit: Getty
He first caught the eye at Benfica, when he netted 15 league goals in his debut season in senior football
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He first caught the eye at Benfica, when he netted 15 league goals in his debut season in senior footballCredit: Getty
Costa said: “If we could bring back players from our academy who have the quality and prominence that a player like Joao has, we would all like that.
“All Benfica fans would like that.
“The amounts involved, both in transfers and salaries, are very high and we have to respect that part.”
Felix rose through the youth ranks at Benfica to make his first-team debut as an 18-year-old in August 2018.
He proved an immediate hit at senior level, as he notched 20 goals in 32 appearances in all competitions for the Eagles, earning him a move to Atletico Madrid in 2019 for a club-record £113m.
He went on to score 34 goals in five years with the Spanish giants, and spent the 2022/23 season on loan at the Blues, before a separate loan spell with Barcelona in 2023/24.
Christopher Nkunku netted 15 goals in all competitions for Chelsea last term
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Christopher Nkunku netted 15 goals in all competitions for Chelsea last termCredit: Getty
Another player who looks set to join Felix on his way out of Stamford Bridge is Christopher Nkunku.
While, unlike Felix, the Frenchman featured in Chelsea's successful Club World Cup campaign in the USA, he is still expected to depart this summer.
Nkunku was previously offered to Manchester United in a player swap for Alejandro Garnacho, but an agreement was never reached and talkSPORT understands this move is unlikely to happen.
Another player who could depart in the coming weeks is Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, with the Blues prepared to listen to reasonable offers for the former Leicester man.
Meanwhile, promising academy graduate Tyrique George could be sent out on loan, though it is not yet clear if he is part of the first-team's plans.
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Chelsea are also prioritising the sale of a number of high earners not in Enzo Maresca’s plans.
The list includes a number of big names, including Raheem Sterling, Ben Chilwell, Renato Veiga and Axel Disasi, as well as Carney Chukwuemeka, Lesley Ugochukwu and Armando Broja.