Aston Villa enquire over out-of-favour Chelsea star Joao Felix… with former Atletico Madrid man starting just THREE times in the Premier League since his £46m move last summer

Aston Villa are among the clubs to have enquired about Chelsea winger Joao Felix as he looks for more game time in the second half of the season. 

Felix, 25, joined Chelsea for a reported £46million from Atletico Madrid last summer but has struggled for sufficient game time under Enzo Maresca since signing his six-year deal at Stamford Bridge.

The Portuguese star, who is behind first-choice No 10 Cole Palmer in the pecking order, has only started three Premier League games since the start of the campaign, prompting a handful of clubs including Aston Villa to reach out over his situation at Chelsea. 

Felix joined Atletico Madrid in 2019 for an astronomical fee of £113m before eventually falling out with manager Diego Simeone and completing loan spells at both Barcelona and Stamford Bridge.

The 25-year-old missed Chelsea’s 3-1 defeat against Manchester City on Sunday after being granted compassionate leave to fly home following a family bereavement.

Speaking on Felix’s absence and struggles for game time this campaign, Maresca said at the weekend: ‘For sure, Joao is a Chelsea player.

‘The problem, unfortunately, for Joao and Christo [Nkunku], the manager plays most of the games with one attacking midfielder and that is Cole Palmer.

‘We have decided to play with an attacking midfielder in most of the games, so this is the reason why Joao and Christo struggle to get minutes – not for any different reasons because they are both fantastic players, fantastic guys who work well.

‘The reason why is only because most of the games I decide to play with one attacking midfielder in terms of balance. This is the reason why.’

Pushed on whether Felix could leave before the transfer window slammed shut, Maresca added: ‘I am not saying that, I am not saying that.

‘I am saying that I like both but the reason why they struggle is because most of the time I play with one attacking midfielder.’ 

Felix is the latest Chelsea star to attract interest ahead of January’s transfer deadline, with Aston Villa and Wolves both keen on signing out-of-favour defender Axel Disasi on loan.

The west London club made clear how far down the pecking order Disasi is under Maresca by recalling Trevoh Chalobah from Crystal Palace this month and playing him in their last two Premier League fixtures against Wolves and Manchester City.

Disasi, whom Chelsea signed from Monaco for £38.8million in 2023, has only featured in six Premier League matches so far this season, starting four times and coming on as a substitute twice.

Meanwhile, Manchester United have asked about the possibility of loaning Christopher Nkunku for the remainder of the season.

Nkunku, 27, has endured a frustrating 18 months since joining the Blues from RB Leipzig for £52million in the summer of 2023.

After spending much of last season injured, the Frenchman has started just three Premier League games this time around and has mainly featured in cup competitions for Maresca’s side.

Nkunku is also wanted by German giants Bayern Munich while Chelsea would like Bayern’s Mathys Tel. 

Mail Sport previously reported that Nkunku has agreed to go to Bayern if they meet Chelsea’s £70m asking price.

That is made more intriguing by the fact that the Blues have a long-standing interest in teenager Tel, having also checked on his availability in the summer.

Nkunku is currently tied down to a deal that lasts until 2029 and Chelsea are believed to value him at more than £60m.