CHELSEA are nearing completion on a deal that would see Premier League flop Joao Felix join Saudi club Al Nassr.
The Portuguese seemed to be on the verge of returning to his boyhood club Benfica before the stepped into the ring.
Transfer guru says a deal is at its final stages as the clubs near agreement on a fee reportedly in the region of £40million.
Felix, 25, has already given his approval of the project and his personal terms.
Al Nassr’s offer is reported to be a five-year contract with an annual salary of £22million, or £420,000 a week.
This salary, by comparison, would make him the second-highest earner in the Premier League behind Erling Haaland’s £500,000 weekly wage.
His wage would even equate to £20,000 per-week more than .
Should the move go through, he would be reunited with his Portuguese national team colleague .
Joao Felix was the subject of the fourth most expensive transfer ever when he made the move from to as a teenager in 2019.
After a falling out with the management in Madrid, Felix had loan spells with and before the Blues made a £42million gamble on him last summer.
Between his two stints at the club, Felix has made 40 total appearances for the Blues, scoring 11 goals.
Chelsea were at a loss with Joao Felix this window after a in Milan last season.
The club were set to take a huge loss on his return to Benfica, who were reportedly looking to pay half the fee that Chelsea paid for the forward at around £22million.
Al Nassr’s improved offer puts them in good stead to steal the star from under the Portuguese giant’s nose, as Chelsea look to recoup almost the full fee they paid for him a year ago.
