McCoist SLAMS Chelsea's decision to pay a £9m loan fee to sign Felix
‘Absolute madness’: Ally McCoist SLAMS Chelsea’s decision to pay a £9m loan fee to sign Joao Felix… as he claims the Atletico Madrid forward is ‘not the answer to Chelsea’s problems’
- Chelsea are set to complete a loan move for Atletico Madrid forward Joao Felix
- The Blues will pay a £9m loan fee, while they will also cover Felix’s hefty wages
- Ally McCoist slammed the decision to pay such a large sum for a loan
- McCoist also insisted the forward was not the answer to Chelsea’s problems
Ally McCoist has slammed Chelsea’s imminent signing of Joao Felix, branding the Blues’ decision to pay a £9m loan fee ‘absolute madness’.
Sportsmail reported yesterday how the Atletico Madrid forward is expected to join Graham Potter’s side in a temporary move for the rest of the season and they will also cover his £5.3m wages during his time at Stamford Bridge.
The deal is expected to be completed imminently with Felix seen leaving Atletico Madrid’s training ground on Tuesday and his girlfriend was also pictured on a private jet heading to London. An official announcement is likely to be made on Wednesday.
Ally McCoist called Chelsea’s decision to pay a £9m loan fee for Joao Felix ‘absolute madness’
However, there is no option to make the move permanent, with Marca reporting Atletico want the forward to sign a one-year extension before sealing his move to Chelsea.
His current deal expires in 2026 but the Spanish giants want to extend it to 2027 to ‘reduce the annual amortisation and balance their accounts’.
And McCoist couldn’t quite believe the figures involved for what is only a short-term move.
‘Firstly, I’ve got to say I can’t believe we’re paying £10m for a loan now – absolute madness,’ McCoist told talkSPORT.
The pundit also insisted the Portuguese forward was not the answer to Chelsea’s problems
Graham Potter’s side have been in dismal form and sit in 10th place in the Premier League
‘I like Joao Felix, I don’t think he’s the answer to Chelsea’s problems. They need a centre forward, plus I don’t think he’s consistent enough.
‘I watched him closely at the World Cup and I thought he did some brilliant things.
‘I thought he had one or two good games but he’s one of those players, for me, he just leaves you wanting a little bit more.’
The Blues have acted swiftly to land Felix – who had made it clear that he wanted to leave Atletico – beating off interest from Manchester United and Arsenal to sign the Portuguese forward.
United reportedly balked at the loan fee being demanded by the Spanish giants and have since turned their attention to striker Wout Weghorst.
The Old Trafford club themselves have paid large fees in the past as it cost them £6m – plus another £10m in wages – to take Radamel Falcao on loan from Monaco until the rest of the season in 2014.
Felix was earlier filmed leaving Atletico Madrid’s training ground as he gets set to join Chelsea
Felix’s girlfriend also posted a photo of herself on a private jet heading to London with him
Arsenal are also seeking reinforcements up front but were also put off by the price, and held talks with Atletico in a bid to lower it.
Chelsea are eager to revitalise their attack, with Graham Potter’s side having struggled in that department since he took over.
Chelsea have scored just three goals in their last seven games in all competitions and have used Kai Havertz up front, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang out of favour.
Similarly, they have struggled with injuries in forward areas and Raheem Sterling, Christian Pulisic and Aubameyang all missed Sunday’s 4-0 defeat to Manchester City.
Felix is keen for a move away from Atletico after falling out-of-favour with Diego Simeone
Felix has been inconsistent at Atletico this season scoring just four goals and providing three assists in 14 LaLiga appearances.
In 2019 the 23-year-old joined the Spanish side from Benfica for £113million, which remains the fourth highest transfer fee in football history.
Felix is expected to be the latest arrival at Stamford Bridge, with Chelsea having already announced the signings of Benoit Badiashile – who cost £58million from Monaco – along with David Datro Fofana and Andrey Santos so far this window.
The Blues are also targeting Argentina World Cup winner Enzo Fernandes from Benfica.
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