In a recent interview with El Chiringuito, journalist Eduardo Inda has reckoned that Arsenal want to land Atletico Madrid forward Joao Felix. Inda said,
“Joao Félix is a very good player. Arsenal want him.
“Simeone, if he continues, wants to bring in Guedes. His objective is to change Joao Félix for Guedes.
“The problem Atletico have is that he cost €120m, and getting him back is something that can only be done if he is sold to the Premier League.”
Felix’s Recent Form At The Wanda Metropolitano
Felix has struggled to give a good impression of himself at the Spanish capital during this campaign but has done well to put in some encouraging performances as the focal point of Diego Simeone’s attack. The Portugal international has registered four goals and five assists in 24 matches for the Spanish side this season across multiple competitions.
Most of Felix’s appearances have come off the bench which could be why he is only averaging 1.5 shots, 0.7 key passes and 1.2 dribbles per game in La Liga. The 22-year-old has distributed the ball relatively well in the final third after completing 76.4% of his attempted passes in the Spanish top tier (stats via whoscored).
What Will Felix Bring To Arsenal?
Felix is an excellent dribbler with the ball at his feet and can use his pace to beat his marker in the attacking end of the pitch. The 20-time Portugal international is also proficient at getting a few shots in on-target and can be a streaky scorer when he is playing well on the field. However, he has been a bit injury-prone this season, so there are some question marks over his long-term fitness.
Currently, Arsenal are in dire need of a new forward with Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah both nearing the end of their respective contracts. Thus, Felix could be a good fit for the Gunners as he will bring a lot of pace and dynamism to Mikel Arteta‘s attack.
Still, the Atletico Madrid youngster might struggle to cope with the physical nature of English football which makes him a risky option for the North London outfit to pursue in the summer.