Chelsea face German side Bayer Leverkusen in a friendly at Stamford Bridge next month.
The Blues lifted the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States earlier this month, and have therefore had a delayed start to their pre-season campaign.
Enzo Maresca and those in charge of the Blues’ recruitment have been busy in the transfer market so far this summer, with no fewer than five players arriving at Stamford Bridge since the start of the window.
The West London club have also allowed a number of players to depart SW6 so far this summer, and it now appears that another may soon be on his way out.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Saudi side Al Nassr are attempting to hijack Benfica’s pursuit of Chelsea forward Joao Felix.
The journalist claims that the Pro League giants are in advanced talks to land the 25-year-old, who will be allowed to leave Chelsea this summer.
Felix spent the second half of last season on loan at AC Milan (Photo: Independent Photo Agency srl/Alamy)
Felix joined the Blues for a second spell last summer, having previously spent time on loan at Stamford Bridge.
The Portugal international – who was once the fourth most expensive player of all time after a £113 million move from Benfica to Atletico Madrid – struggled to establish himself as a regular in Maresca’s side during the first part of last term and was therefore sent on loan to Italian outfit AC Milan in January.
He has since returned to Chelsea but wasn’t part of their squad for the Club World Cup earlier this summer, and his former side Benfica had been interested in signing the forward.
Romano claims, however, that Al Nassr have now sent a contract offer to the player and an official bid to Chelsea, with an agreement likely to be reached in the coming days.
Felix is under contract at Stamford Bridge until the end of the 2030/31 campaign, but it appears that he will leave the club this summer.