Where Will Chelsea’s New Loan Signing, João Felix Play?

The Portuguese international, João Felix has been brought in until the end of the season to address the Chelsea’ goal scoring woes, although he’s never been very prolific.

The search for an attacker who can genuinely score goals for Chelsea has gotten frantic. In their most recent effort to address their goal-scoring issues, the Blues have turned to Atletico Madrid wantaway Joao Felix, another player who is not particularly prolific and does not have a fixed position. This move is supported by their free-spending new ownership.

READ ALSO: Out-Of-Favour Barcelona Forward Targeted As Atletico’s Felix Replacement; Man United, Newcastle Also Keen

So it’s unlikely that there will be an immediate consequence.

To sign the 23-year-old from Atleti, where he has flattered to deceive since a sensational €127m (£112m/$135m) signing from Benfica in 2019, Chelsea are likely to fork over a £10 million loan fee.

Instead of solely scoring goals for Chelsea, the flexible Felix is hoped to be able to free up the team’s other struggling strikers.

THEEAGLE evaluates how the new player might fit in at Stamford Bridge.

Felix up front

Felix can theoretically play this position because he has frequently been used as a striker in a front two at Atletico Madrid.

He hasn’t exactly made a splash in this system, though it’s important to look beyond the numbers when determining a player’s suitability. When playing as a center-forward, only one stat matters: goals. And in 96 games for Atleti, Felix has only scored 25 goals.

Also doubtful is his opportunity to participate in a two-man attack.

In an effort to find a winning formula, Chelsea head coach Graham Potter has frequently changed his formation. However, for the most part, he has asked one player to lead the line, with wingers either side of the center-forward, or tucked in behind in a 3-4-2-1.

Felix on the left

Felix has played more on the left this season, both at the club and international levels, than he has in the past.

In fact, he has appeared to be at his best when playing the inverted winger position, particularly during the World Cup when he was able to drift out wide, gather the ball, and use his two-footedness to enter the play and influence it in the central areas, frequently leading to overloads for the opposing defense.

These kinds of opportunities led to two adorable assists for him in Qatar, and Potter will be hoping that he can similarly assist Havertz, his favourite central striker.

It will also be encouraging for the Premier League team that he played with such physicality throughout Portugal’s disastrous campaign.

Felix, like his predecessor Eden Hazard, can be press-resistant when necessary but is also willing to take a big challenge once he has his man in.

In reality, Felix would be a better option than Christian Pulisic or Hakim Ziyech given his present form, and Potter favors Mount in a deeper role despite the fact that Felix should have stiff competition for a starting position on paper.

So, he’ll most likely occupy a wide role, with Raheem Sterling on the opposite wing when fit.

Felix’s preferred position

Speaking to The Athletic last year, Felix said: “My best position is as the second forward. Playing like a no.10, with a guy in front of me.”

Although he scored from a second striker position in La Liga games immediately before and after Qatar 2022, this opinion may have altered since his spectacular World Cup performance, where his starting position was off the left.

Mason Mount, the manager’s favorite, would need to be moved in order for Felix to play as a no.10 in a 4-3-3, and that seems unlikely.

Once Reece James is fit again, Potter switching back to a 3-5-2 formation with Felix in a free role behind Kai Havertz will become a more alluring option.

A few years ago that would have been a truly mouth-watering prospect, but Felix and Havertz – both 23 – have so far failed to live up to their seemingly ceiling-less potential.