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Chelsea will be without striker Joao Felix for their high-profile Premier League encounter with Manchester City on Saturday.
As first reported by the Telegraph, Standard sport It appears the Portugal international will not feature in a heavyweight match at the Etihad Stadium this evening following a recent family bereavement.
Felix was granted a period of compassionate leave by Chelsea and was flown back to Portugal.
Chelsea are also without key midfielder Romeo Lavia and centre-backs Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile against City due to injury, although Levi Colwill and Enzo Fernandez can both return. Mykhailo Mudryk remains unavailable.
Felix has made 20 appearances in all competitions for Chelsea so far this season, scoring seven goals and registering two assists.
While he is a key member of Enzo Maresca’s side in the domestic and European cups, scoring doubles against Panathinaikos, FC Noah and most recently Morecambe in the FA Cup third round, he has not started just three times in the Premier League under the Italian and scored once, in the 6-2 defeat to Wolves on the opening weekend.
Felix returned to Chelsea for £45million in a shock deal from Atletico Madrid last summer as Conor Gallagher moved to Spain, signing a seven-year deal at Stamford Bridge after scoring four goals in 20 appearances while on loan to west London in 2023.
The 25-year-old has been linked with a move to Serie A during the January transfer window, with reports indicating that AC Milan are targeting both Felix and Manchester United striker Joshua Zirkzee as potential loan alternatives to Marcus Rashford.
