CM: Milan need more from Chelsea loanee – the possible options to extend his stay | OneFootball

Joao Felix started life at AC Milan with a bang but since then has gone quiet, and at present the chances of him remaining beyond May are slim.

As Calciomercato.com report, in his 68 minutes in Bologna, Felix made just eight passes, without a single shot on goal. The Portuguese is not lighting up with creativity in the way that Milan hoped when they signed him from Chelsea, with not a single goal contribution in four league starts.

The lack of consistency is clear to see, even if Sergio Conceicao has tried to shield him, stating: “He is very good between the lines, in my opinion sometimes with the desire to touch the ball many times he moves to areas where it is not needed: we need a second striker.

“He accepts that he has to improve something every day, he has to be more decisive: he must not find himself far from the goal as happens now. He has to make the difference in the last thirty meters, we are working on this with him as well as with other players.”

Milan not only ‘cannot ignore the signs’ regarding his performances but also there is an economic aspect that means permanence is unlikely. Joao Felix was bought by Chelsea in the summer of 2024 for €52m, signing a six-year deal worth €€8.14m net per year.

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Milan paid €5m, including bonuses, for the loan and are contributing to the payment of his salary, albeit with a portion covered by the London club. To transform the dry loan into a permanent transfer the costs must be reduced, with the break-even number in June 2025 set at €41.6m for Chelsea.

So, either Milan must include a counterpart to reduce the financial outlay or they must try and get the Blues to say yes to another loan, this time with an obligation to buy of at least €31.2m. The situation has become a headache, but there is still time for the 25-year-old to show his worth.