Arsenal ‘better suited’ for €126m World Cup star but agent is ‘pushing’ him to join Premier League rivals

David Ornstein believes Atletico Madrid star Joao Felix would be ‘better suited’ at Arsenal but the player’s agent is ‘pushing’ him to join Aston Villa.
Felix has endured a tough few months as he has fallen out of favour at Atletico Madrid with him butting heads with Diego Simeone.
The Portugal star has not lived up to expectations at the La Liga side since he joined them for €126m in 2019 from Benfica.
The 23-year-old silenced some of his doubters at the World Cup as he was one of Portugal’s best players as they reached the quarter-finals of the competition.
Atletico Madrid’s stance has not changed though. The club’s chief executive – Miguel Angel Gil Marin – has admitted that it is “reasonable to think that Felix might leave” the club in January.
Man Utd reportedly made a big for him in the summer but at that time Atletico Madrid were unwilling to let him leave.
Arsenal and Aston Villa have now joined the race to sign Felix, though.
Ornstein has revealed that the idea of Felix going to Aston Villa is being ‘pushed’ by his agent, Jorge Mendes.
But the journalist feels that the forward would be ‘better suited to Arsenal’, especially with Gabriel Jesus set to be out for a couple of months
‘Some Premier League sides have been led to believe the Portugal forward could even be available on loan, albeit with a sizeable fee and salary.
‘Others, though, think a permanent transfer is more realistic for a player who joined Atletico in 2019 from Benfica for €126million and is contracted until 2026.
‘Aston Villa is an option that Felix’s agent Jorge Mendes is believed to be pushing. He has a strong relationship with the Villa ownership after doing the deal for Unai Emery to be appointed as manager.
‘Some who work in top-level recruitment, however, think Felix may be better suited to Arsenal, given the stylistic fit and their potential need for attacking reinforcements after Gabriel Jesus underwent knee surgery.’
Arsenal are also in the market for a new centre-midfielder and they are being linked with Valencia youngster Yunus Musah.
The USA international previously played for the Gunners but he left before he could make his senior debut.
The 20-year-old impressed at the World Cup and Ornstein is reporting that Valencia are still ‘willing to listen to bids’ and they hope that his recent form in Qatar will ‘stimulate the market for him’.
‘A number of Premier League clubs’ are ‘exploring’ the possibility of signing Musah. It is expected that a bid ‘north of £20m’ would be needed to sign him.
The player’s stance is thought to be that he is ‘keen on experiencing a new challenge’.
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