Aston Villa’s young striker Jhon Duran was heavily linked with Chelsea throughout the summer transfer window, but despite the speculation, no deal was completed.
West Ham also showed strong interest in signing the Colombian forward and pursued him actively during the January window.
However, instead of joining a Premier League rival, Duran now seems set for a move to Saudi Arabia.
Reports from Sky Sports indicate that Aston Villa has reached an agreement on the transfer, the player has undergone his medical examination, and the only step remaining is for him to travel and officially sign the contract, which is expected to happen later today.
This outcome will be seen as a disappointment for Chelsea, as Duran’s arrival could have provided them with an injection of pace, physicality, and unpredictability in attack.
However, this development also opens up new opportunities.
Aston Villa is set to receive a significant transfer fee—around €70 million—for a player who was mostly a backup in their squad.
With this sudden influx of cash, Villa is expected to reinvest in new signings before the transfer deadline on Monday night.
Chelsea may look to capitalize on Villa’s fresh financial flexibility to make moves of their own. One player whose name has resurfaced in transfer discussions is Joao Felix.
Journalist Ben Jacobs has confirmed that Chelsea still holds an interest in the Portuguese playmaker, particularly as Aston Villa is in need of an attacking midfielder after the recent departure of Emi Buendia.
Felix could be an ideal replacement for Buendia at Villa Park.
That said, securing Felix’s transfer will not be a simple task.
Atletico Madrid signed him permanently for around £45 million in the summer, and they are unlikely to accept a significantly lower fee.
However, Felix has struggled for consistent playing time at the club, and his growing frustration with his situation could lead to a decline in his market value.
If Chelsea can take advantage of Villa’s financial position to negotiate a sale for Felix, it could be a beneficial move for all parties involved.
The Blues would be able to free up funds to reinvest in a player better suited to their tactical setup, while Villa would strengthen their squad with an established creative talent.
In other transfer news, reports suggest that Manchester United’s ownership group, INEOS, is making changes behind the scenes in an effort to improve performance.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has reportedly stated that the club has brought in an additional high-profile coach to support manager Ruben Amorim as they seek to maximize results.
Meanwhile, Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano has reported that yet another underwhelming signing from the Erik ten Hag era could soon be on his way out of Manchester United.
Following Antony’s potential departure, another player is now being linked with a move to Real Betis.
The player in question has reportedly expressed dissatisfaction with the current management and is open to leaving Old Trafford.
