Chelsea set to keep Joao Felix next season despite refusing to pay transfer fee as Pochettino eyes Lukaku partnership

JOAO FELIX looks set to stay at Chelsea for another year even though the club will not be playing in the Champions League.

The Portuguese forward had stressed that qualification for the world’s best club competition would influence his decision on whether to remain in England or go back to Atletico Madrid.

Joao Felix joined Chelsea on loan in January and could stay next season Credit: Getty

Romelu Lukaku is currently on loan at Inter Milan from the Blues but is set to return Credit: Reuters

But the prospect of a further season in the Premier League is emerging as the most likely outcome despite the fact Chelsea will not make the top four.

Atletico boss Diego Simeone has moved on since Felix left the club during the January transfer window.

They have won 12 and lost just one of 16 games since the player’s departure on a six month deal to Chelsea paying around £9.7m in fees.

Simeone is keen to make the move permanent but Atletico chiefs want £88m for the Portuguese international, who has fallen down the pecking order at Chelsea in recent weeks.

He has been on the bench for the last three matches under caretaker boss Frank Lampard.

Felix, 23, is settled in London and happy to stay but wants assurances from the incoming permanent boss – expected to be Mauricio Pochettino – that he will get game time.

With that and with Chelsea reluctant to pay the full asking price for Felix, a compromise second loan is likely.

That would cost Chelsea chairman Todd Boehly around £18m in fees plus Felix’s wages of around £250k-a-week.

Even though Pochettino is some way off formally agreeing to become next Chelsea boss, summer plans for the players are already underway.

On-loan striker Romelu Lukaku is coming back from Inter Milan and talks will be held to try to make him give England another go after his disappointing season under previous Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel.