Arsenal lead race for Joao Felix as Jorge Mendes accelerates transfer

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Arsenal are reportedly leading the race to sign Atletico Madrid star Joao Felix in January. Manchester United, Chelsea and Aston Villa are also said to be interested in the player but the Gunners are currently at the front of the queue.

Arsenal could potentially enter the market to sign a forward in January. Mikel Arteta is set to be without Gabriel Jesus for several months after he suffered a knee injury during the World Cup.

That leaves Eddie Nketiah as the only senior striker available to Arteta. Nketiah is yet to start or score in the Premier League this season.

Arsenal are flying high at the top of the table and only want to strengthen their chances of a first title since 2004. Shakhtar Donetsk winger Mykhaylo Mudryk is their top target in the January transfer window.

Joao Felix scores sensational goal for Atletico Madrid

But speculation over a potential move for Felix has ramped up in recent days. Spanish outlet Marca now claims Arsenal are leading the way to sign the Portugal star.

The report says the player’s agent Jorge Mendes will now accelerate plans over his client’s future following Portugal’s shock exit from the World Cup on Saturday. Felix was part of the side who crashed out to Morocco at the quarter-final stage.

United and Chelsea are both credited with interest in the 23-year-old. Villa are also keen, though Marca claims a move to Birmingham is not attractive to Felix.

The versatile forward is claimed to have made clear to Atletico that he wants to leave the club. He is yet to live up to the hype expected from him following his near £113million move from Benfica in 2019.

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Felix has fallen out of favour under Diego Simeone this season. He has started just five La Liga matches, registering three goals and three assists.

He has 33 goals to his name in 129 appearances in total for the Spanish club. Felix is not an out-and-out No 9 but that would perhaps suit Arteta’s style of play.

Jesus has not been a regular goalscorer since his arrival from Manchester City in the summer. However, there is no doubting the impact he has had on how the Gunners operate in the final third.

Felix could provide a false nine option for Arteta, with the technical ability to drop deep and bring his team-mates into the game. Felix’s versatility means he can play in a variety of positions once Jesus is back to full fitness.

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