Colombian international emerges as a target to bolster Stamford Bridge attack
Chelsea have entered transfer negotiations with Aston Villa for Colombian striker Jhon Duran, as the Blues seek to strengthen their attacking options. The 21-year-old forward has impressed for Villa this season, scoring 12 goals in 28 appearances, but has struggled to secure a starting spot ahead of Ollie Watkins.
Duran was once again on the bench during Villa’s 1-0 loss to Monaco in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, a match that highlighted the tactical challenge of playing both strikers together.
Chelsea, currently lacking depth at the No. 9 position with Nicolas Jackson as their only recognized striker, are revisiting a move for Duran after an unsuccessful attempt during the summer transfer window. Reports suggest the London club has intensified talks with Duran’s representatives, spurred by West Ham’s growing interest in the young forward.
West Ham has already had two bids rejected by Aston Villa, who value Duran at just under €100 million. The mounting competition appears to have accelerated Chelsea’s efforts to secure the Colombian international.
Unai Emery Acknowledges Tactical Challenges
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has openly discussed the difficulties of integrating Duran and Watkins into the same lineup. Following the loss to Monaco, Emery admitted that deploying both players simultaneously disrupted the team’s structure.
“The last 20 or 25 minutes, when we played with two strikers, we lost our positioning,” Emery said. “It’s about building a team with the mentality I want. Both are very good players, but today it didn’t work well.”
The former Arsenal boss has previously expressed concerns about the tactical compatibility of his two forwards, emphasizing the need for both players to contribute defensively and offensively.
“I tried it before, and sometimes it was successful,” Emery noted. “But it’s complicated tactically to have both performing together in the way I want.”
A Likely Departure?
While Emery values both players, the current situation may not be sustainable in the long term. With Duran attracting interest from multiple clubs and Villa facing difficulties accommodating both strikers, a resolution seems inevitable.
Chelsea will hope to capitalize on the situation as they aim to reinforce their squad and address their attacking shortcomings in a bid to climb the Premier League table.
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