Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag is hoping to make Chelsea loanee Joao Felix the ‘cornerstone’ of his side from next season, according to reports.

The Portugal international joined Chelsea in the January transfer window on loan from Atletico Madrid until the end of the season with the Blues having no option to buy.

After not featuring as much as he would’ve liked under Diego Simeone this season, Atletico allowed him to leave but still see him as a top talent.

Felix hasn’t set the world alight since arriving in England with just two goals in seven matches – but he has showed glimpses of his undoubted quality.

Man Utd have already been linked with a potential move for Felix in the summer transfer window with the Red Devils looking to add to their forward line.

And now Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo (via Sport Witness) claim that Man Utd are now ready to act on their ‘long-held desire’ for the Atletico Madrid forward.

The Red Devils are ‘monitoring’ his performances on loan at Premier League rivals Chelsea with Ten Hag keen to make Felix the ‘cornerstone’ of his side.

A fee of around €100m is seen as realistic with Man Utd hoping for a ‘favourable deal’ as the report adding that Atletico Madrid see €140m (£123m) as the ‘idyllic’ offer.

Man Utd also have Tottenham’s Harry Kane, Napoli’s Victor Osimhen and Benfica’s Goncalo Ramos on their shortlist as they look to take some of the goalscoring burden away from Marcus Rashford, who has bagged 27 goals this term.

Wout Weghorst, who joined on a loan deal until the end of the season from Championship side Burnley, and injury-prone Anthony Martial are unlikely to be part of Ten Hag’s long-term plans.

Former Chelsea defender Frank Leboeuf has urged the Blues to sign Felix permanently in the summer and sell players like Christian Pulisic and Mason Mount.

When asked if Chelsea should sign Felix on a permanent deal, Leboeuf told ESPN: “Joao Felix is a great player.

“I think he’s the most dangerous player, the most entertaining player, the most artistic player at Chelsea right now. He’s been pretty consistent too, almost every game he creates something.

“Hopefully Chelsea will be able to sell a few players – maybe Pulisic and Mount – and can then get Felix on a permanent.

“It would be a lot of money, that’s the only worry for the owners. But in terms of a football player, I would sign him.”

READ MORE: Spunking £100m on Joao Felix could be the most humiliating forward signing yet by Chelsea

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