Many believed Chelsea were going to facE a tough task in finding a solution to the future of one player who is firmly out of the plans in West London.
Joao Felix is clearly not a part of the ongoing project at Stamford Bridge. It was even reported last season that Enzo Maresca never really wanted Felix to join the club in the first place.
After failing to make an impact in the manager’s first six months, he made a switch to AC Milan on loan, with the intention to potentially move permanently in the summer.
This is now off the cards, with Italian media frequently slamming Felix for his performances at the San Siro during his time there.
Benfica pushing hard to sign Joao Felix from Chelsea
Despite Cristiano Ronaldo trying to convince Felix to move to Saudi Arabia, it looks as if a switch across Europe is more likely at this stage.
According to Record, Benfica are in advanced talks to bring the attacker back to the club. He previously left the Liga Portugal side back in 2019.
The report goes on to say that a move back to the club has never been closer than it is now, as Chelsea look for a permanent end to what could end up being a long-term nightmare.
Todd Boehly inherited a similar issue when he took over the club regarding the future of Romelu Lukaku, however this time the problem has been brought upon himself.
Felix’s previous record at Benfica
While goals have been hard to come by during both of Felix’s spells at Stamford Bridge, this was not the case when he was back in his home country.
He played just one season for the first team before his big-money move to Atletico Madrid, however this campaign saw him provide the best numbers of his career so far.
He scored 20 goals in all competitions whilst providing another seven assists, and a move to familiar settings could be exactly what he needs to revitalise his career.
If he does leave this summer, he will depart with an honour to his name. Felix was eligible for a Conference League winners medal after the Blues beat Real Betis in the final last week.
