London giant Chelsea are reportedly considering a surprise bid to sign Aston Villa forward Jhon Duran, a target for West Ham United.
According to a report by Daily Telegraph, Jhon Duran is the subject of interest from Chelsea. The Blues are weighing up a surprise bid to sign the 20-year-old striker in the January transfer window. Meanwhile, he is also a target for West Ham United, although Aston Villa recently rejected an approach from the Hammers.
Who is Jhon Duran?
Jhon Duran has had to bide his time since joining Aston Villa from Chicago Fire in January 2023. The Colombian international spent most of his formative years in his homeland before graduating from the Envigado youth division. But he rose to prominence after moving to the USA.
The 20-year-old went from strength to strength at Chicago Fire before Aston Villa snapped him up in a deal worth £18 million. But he has been a backup option under Unai Emery, with Ollie Watkins being the first-choice striker. Nonetheless, Duran has a decent record of four goals and one assist in only 662 minutes of game time.
Set to Leave Aston Villa?
But Jhon Duran faces an uncertain future at Aston Villa, with Unai Emery ready to sanction his sale. Recent reports have linked him with several Serie A bigwigs, with AC Milan and Inter Milan interested in him. But a move across the Premier League might be on the cards, with Chelsea and West Ham United keen on signing him.
Chelsea’s interest in Duran is hardly surprising, considering the Blues’ inconsistencies in the final third. Nicolas Jackson has struggled to set the stage alight with his exploits since arriving from Villarreal. In addition, Armando Broja faces an uncertain future at Stamford Bridge, with Chelsea open to sell him. So, the Aston Villa striker is a viable target, with the West London club thinking about a bid.
As for West Ham United, the Hammers recently approached Aston Villa over a possible move for the 20-year-old. But the Villans knocked back the enquiry, even though they have been ready to part ways with him. Like Chelsea, West Ham can do with a striker, with Michail Antonio and Danny Ings no longer being dependable.
With time running out in the January transfer window, Chelsea and West Ham United need to intensify their efforts to sign the Colombian international. It will be interesting to see if the Aston Villa forward moves across the Premier League this month.
