On-loan Barcelona forward Joao Felix has had a decent if unspectacular season in Catalonia this year, but if he and the club are to be believed, then both are keen to ensure he is back next season. Meanwhile Atletico Madrid have made it clear that suits them just fine, but they will require some money in order to consider another loan deal for the Portuguese. Something Barcelona are not flush for.

It’s a stand-off that has been playing out over many months at this point, but agent Jorge Mendes, who represents Felix and has close ties with both clubs, believes he has found the answer in another of his clients. According to Relevo, Mendes wants to send Ansu Fati to Atletico on loan in the other direction.

Fati is hardly having the season he wanted at Brighton on loan this season, and neither is he preferred option for Diego Simeone, but both he and Atletico see his arrival as a lesser problem than the idea of Felix remaining at the club. Fati has been linked with a loan to Sevilla and Valencia, and while Barcelona would rather sell the 21-year-old too, it seems more likely they will have to loan him in order to hopefully recover some of his form and value.