Chelsea will be without forward Joao Felix for their high-profile Premier League meeting with Manchester City on Saturday.

As first reported by The Telegraph, Standard Sport understands the Portuguese international will not be involved in a heavyweight fixture at the Etihad Stadium this evening after a recent family bereavement.

Felix has been granted a period of compassionate leave by Chelsea and flown home to Portugal.

Chelsea are also without key midfielder Romeo Lavia and centre-backs Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile against City due to injury, though Levi Colwill and Enzo Fernandez could both return. Mykhailo Mudryk remains unavailable.

Felix has made 20 appearances across all competitions for Chelsea so far this season, scoring seven goals and registering two assists.

While a key member of Enzo Maresca’s rotated side fielded in the domestic cup competitions and in Europe, scoring braces against each of Panathinaikos, FC Noah and most recently Morecambe in the FA Cup third round, he has started only three times in the Premier League under the Italian and scored once, in the 6-2 thrashing of Wolves on opening weekend.

Felix returned to Chelsea for £45million in a shock deal with Atletico Madrid last summer as Conor Gallagher moved to Spain, signing a seven-year contract at Stamford Bridge after previously scoring four goals in 20 appearances during a loan stint in west London in 2023.

The 25-year-old has been linked with a move to Serie A in the January transfer window, with reports having stated that AC Milan are targeting both Felix and Manchester United forward Joshua Zirkzee as potential loan alternatives to Marcus Rashford.