Revealed: Chelsea lay down Joao Felix demands to Benfica as Premier League side prepared to compromise after low-ball offer from Portuguese side

According to O JOGO, Chelsea and Benfica are nearing a deal that would see Felix return to the Estadio da Luz. The Eagles have offered around €20 million (£17m/$23m) for 50 per cent of the forward’s rights, a figure the Blues are now open to accepting despite initially requesting €30m (£25m/$34m). However, the English club are demanding that Benfica also commit to buying the remaining half in the coming years to ensure they recoup a bigger chunk of their €52m (£44m/$59m) investment.

The Portuguese has struggled to find consistency in recent years, with underwhelming spells at Barcelona, Chelsea, and most recently AC Milan. Still just 25, he sees Benfica, where he first made his name, as the ideal environment to reignite his career. Chelsea, under Enzo Maresca, have no plans to integrate him into their squad and are pushing to finalise a financially viable exit.

The report adds that Felix has agreed to reduce his annual salary to around €3m (£2.5m/$3.4m) net, in line with Benfica’s highest earners like Nicolas Otamendi. Performance bonuses are also included in his contract. He played 21 matches and scored three goals last season, a figure seen as underwhelming for a player of his talent.

Talks are ongoing to finalise legal terms and long-term guarantees. Felix is currently training away from Chelsea’s first team and is awaiting clearance to travel to Portugal and reunite with his former team-mates. The deal is expected to conclude swiftly if Benfica agree to the Blues' future clause demands.