03 January 2023 , 08:30
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Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey has reportedly made contact with his former Atletico Madrid teammate Joao Felix in an attempt to persuade him to join the Premier League leaders.
Felix, 23, has started just six of Atleti’s 15 La Liga matches this campaign and has fallen out of favour entirely under boss Diego Simeone despite finding the net four times in his limited game time. Manchester United have been linked with a move for the former Benfica ace but a host of clubs are monitoring his situation.
The Portugal international has instructed his agent, Jorge Mendes, to find him a new club in January and Atletico Madrid’s CEO, Miguel Angel Gil Marin, has admitted that the club’s record signing could now be sold next month.
Atletico are said to be demanding an eye-catching £13.3m loan fee for their club record signing along with any signing club paying the £5.3m of the player’s wages for the remainder of the campaign. As reported by The Athletic, Partey has reached out to his former teammate in an attempt to persuade him to move to North London.
The excess price being placed on Felix’s head by Atletico is proving off-putting to interested clubs, with Relevo reporting that his valuation may see him stay in the Spanish capital. "While he's here, I'll try to get the best out of Joao Felix for the club," Simeone said after last week’s La Liga victory over Elche. "Then we will see what's going to happen."
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The club’s CEO Gil Marin recently told Spanish TV station TVE: "Signing him was the biggest bet the club has made in its history. I think he is a top, world-class player, but because of the relationship with the coach, his playing time, his motivation... it'd be reasonable to analyse an option for him to depart if one arrives.
Joao Felix is poised to leave Atletico Madrid in January (Denis Doyle/Getty Images)Have Your Say! Where do you think Felix will be playing by the start of February? Tell us what you think here.
"It's reasonable to think that he might leave, although I'd love him to stay. But, that's not the player's plan."
Arsenal may face competition for Felix from Man United, who are hopeful of bolstering their attacking ranks in January following the exit of Cristiano Ronaldo, which has left Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford as the only established forwards in Erik ten Hag’s squad.
Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain are the other clubs who have been linked to Felix, who has impressed for Portugal at this year’s World Cup.