Joao Felix is “too good” for a move to Wolves right now, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.
The Portugal star looks set to leave Atletico Madrid after falling out with manager Diego Simeone, and Wolves and Aston Villa are amongst the many clubs interested in the forward.
Felix joined Atletico for around £113m in 2019 to replace Antoine Griezmann, and although he has shown his top-class talent, he never seemed to suit Simeone’s more defence-minded approach, and could be on the move in the January window.
Super agent Jorge Mendes represents Felix, and given his relationships with Wolves and Villa, they have been mooted as two surprising destinations for the 23-year-old.
However, Jones has told This Is Futbol that Villa is a more likely move, given that Wolves are struggling right now.
“I think it’s just that Joao Felix in particular is too good for Wolves,” Jones stated.
“I mean, they’re bottom of the league, they don’t have elite pedigree in European football.
“Villa aren’t at the current level where they’d like to be, and they can’t currently offer him European football, but at the same time, they’re only actually four points off sixth place.
“And so they could show him that, with a good second half of the season, it’s not impossible to reach European football there.”
TIF thoughts on Felix…
A move to either Villa or Wolves would be surprising, given Felix would arrive as a title-winning, Champions League level, international forward, and with Arsenal and Manchester United also linked, it is tough to see him choosing to go to a non-European club.
Wolves are close to a deal to sign his teammate Matheus Cunha for around £35m, and it is highly unlikely that they will be able to afford another expensive deal for Felix, especially given the serious threat of relegation.
Although Mendes has a good relationship with both clubs, Felix will likely choose a club currently in European competition as he seeks a new challenge away from Madrid.