Aston Villa has reportedly reopened talks with Chelsea to secure a deal for Portuguese forward Joao Felix before the January transfer window closes.
Felix joined Chelsea from Atletico Madrid in a £46.3 million move last summer but has struggled for consistent game time under manager Enzo Maresca.
The 25-year-old has started just three Premier League matches this season, accumulating only 364 minutes of top-flight action
According to RMC Sport, Villa manager Unai Emery remains a strong admirer of Felix, having attempted to sign him last summer.
With direct negotiations now underway, Villa hopes to finalize a deal before other European clubs vying for Felix can act.
Chelsea boss Maresca explained his reluctance to field Felix regularly, citing positional overlap with Cole Palmer. “Joao has more or less the same position as Cole.
They’ve played together in some games, but it’s about balance, and that’s the reason why,” Maresca said after leaving Felix out of the squad against Fulham last month.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that Chelsea defender Axel Disasi has agreed to join Aston Villa, with talks between the clubs suggesting a potential loan deal for the remainder of the season.
Villa is eager to strengthen its squad as Emery looks to build on the club’s promising Premier League campaign and compete for European qualification.