CHELSEA have made a £56million bid for Atletico Madrid forward Joao Felix, according to reports.
And the transfer could save Conor Gallagher's transfer to Atletico as the English midfielder's future remains in the balance.
Felix, 24, spent the second half of the 2022/23 season on loan at Stamford Bridge, scoring four goals in 20 games.
He returned to Diego Simeone's side and then spent the last campaign on loan at Barcelona where he registered 10 goals and six assists in 44 appearances.
Now, after four seasons, 131 appearances and 24 goals for Atletico, he could finally be set for a permanent switch.
According to , Chelsea have submitted an offer of £54m for the Portuguese international.
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An initial sum of £30m would be paid up front, with the remainder of the fee to be transferred at a later date.
understands Felix has said "yes" to a second stint at Chelsea as negotiations continue between the two clubs.
It is also said to be a "crucial" factor in the completion of Gallagher's move to Atletico.
Chelsea looked set to offload academy product Gallagher in a £34m deal to ease the club's concerns regarding Profit and Sustainability rules.
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But then a deal for Atletico striker Samu Omorodion to move the other way collapsed, putting the Gallagher deal in jeopardy.
Now a bid for Felix has reignited hopes of the England international being offloaded.
Gallagher, 24, has been at Chelsea for 16 years and broke through into the first team in 2019.
He has played 95 games for the club, scoring 10 goals and providing 10 assists.