Fabrizio Romano had to sit through a pretty quiet summer for a long time as the Euros dragged on and financial fair play seemed to really get a grip on football finances.
But with the end of the window coming around things are speeding up, and the madness at Chelsea is really keeping him afloat right now. The saga of the summer has been poor Conor Gallagher’s tragic freeze out, and that’s just got messier and messier, with Romano leading the way on exclusives.
🚨🔵 Understand Chelsea and Atlético are getting closer to final agreement for João Félix and Conor Gallagher!
Positive round of talks today, João says yes to contract terms. Rumours on €60m fixed fee for Félix are not true.
All parties working to get it done this weekend. pic.twitter.com/HOpN50Nt3j
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 16, 2024
Last night he dropped the latest – that there have been “positive talks” in the deal to potentially take Joao Felix to Chelsea and free up funds for Gallagher to go the other direction, to Atletico Madrid.
The two clubs are apparently “getting closer to a final agreement” on the deal. “All parties working to get it done this weekend,” Romano concludes.
Well it’s Saturday now, let’s see where we stand this time tomorrow, when we’ll be just getting the team news in ahead of our opening Premier League fixture of the season, against Man City.
The deal that nobody really wants comes closer to completion
We don’t really want or need Joao Felix in this squad – and it seems likely that the sporting directors know that. But they’d rather save face and get an unwanted Felix than potentially let Gallagher walk away for free in a year’s time.
How or where Felix actually fits into this team is hard to see – but that’s a problem for Enzo Maresca, we suppose.
It feels likely that there’s another twist to come in this tale – so keep your eyes on the site tonight as we await further information from Romano. This saga has dragged on too long – but it has to end eventually.
