Kevin Hatchard has backed Arsenal to secure the services of La Liga star Joao Felix during the January transfer window by claiming that it could be ‘transformational’ for Mikel Arteta’s side in the Premier League title race, as he told Transfer Talk on Sky Sports News.
The European football expert shared how he expects Felix to leave Atletico Madrid this month because it just hasn’t worked out for the 23-year-old and Diego Simeone.
Arsenal are seemingly looking at signing the Portugal international after Gabriel Jesus’ injury, but several names have popped up on their transfer radar, including the much-talked-about, Mykhailo Mudryk.
Felix is a player of high technical quality, he can play across the front three, and he has the ability to drop deep to connect play, as well as the ability to carry the ball forward.
In terms of style of play, donning those Arsenal colours under Arteta’s stewardship should be seen as a match made in heaven, especially with Jesus on the sidelines and cover needed.
Nonetheless, European football expert Hatchard shared that Atletico Madrid are asking for a ‘£15 million loan fee’ for Felix, on top of his wages, as a possible Arsenal transfer is discussed.
“I think it will happen,” said Hatchard. “I think he probably will move to the Premier League. But Atleti are in this situation where they spent an enormous amount of money on him. It hasn’t worked out the way they had hoped. Various reasons for that.
“But the main one is that he was never a great stylistic fit for the way the Atleti play. He got frustrated with Diego Simeone for not giving him enough freedom. Simeone got frustrated with him for not being as fanatical as some of the other players because he wants 100% buy-in and 100% commitment to his way of playing.
“Now Atleti are in a situation where they want to recoup as much of that money as they possibly can, so the talk is that they want £15 million in terms of a loan fee, on top of his £6 million wages, that’s quite a hefty amount of money.
“That said, if you are a club like Arsenal, you look at it and think could that be the signing that tips us over the top in terms of having the ability to rotate and being able to go on and win the Premier League title. A club like Manchester United and Arsenal, then it could be transformational for them.
“He needs a coach that values his game. His movement as well. With Joao Felix, you don’t just say ‘you stand there and we will get you the ball’. He’s not that type of player. He’s a player that can drift. We saw that at the World Cup with Portugal. I remember seeing him in the Youth League for Benfica. You know when you see a player and he just has that thing and you go ‘oh wow’. His technique is amazing and he’s tougher than people give him credit for.”
ARSENAL SHOULD PUSH FOR FELIX
There has been a lot of talk about who Arsenal should bring in, but whilst that action takes place off the field of play, out on the pitch, a certain Eddie Nketiah is showcasing his worth.
That’s back-to-back goals in the Premier League for the Hale-End star, as he is proving his worth.
This is great news for Arteta because his squad is stepping up during a moment that could derail them, but that cover is still needed.
It’s too much to ask for Nketiah to lead the line all on his own during the period Jesus will be out for, plus, if he gets injured himself, then they are in real trouble.
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