Chelsea's transfer curveball! Blues genuinely interested in signing Aston Villa back-up striker Jhon Duran ahead of January deadline

The Blues are considering making an offer for the Colombia international before the transfer period comes to an end next week, The Telegraph reports. West Ham are said to have already bid to take Duran on loan but their approach was rejected by Villa.

Chelsea are only willing to make an approach for Duran, 20, if they sell striker Armando Broja in the coming days. West Ham, Fulham and Wolves are all interested but are reluctant to meet the Blues' £50 million ($64m) valuation of the Albanian.

Duran has been forced to settle for a back-up role at Villa since joining from Chicago Fire in January last year. All 14 of his Premier League appearances this season have been from the bench, totalling 174 minutes. He has scored twice in the English top flight in the 2023-24 campaign. Villa may not be willing to sell him unless they can bring in a replacement and have already had two bids for Morgan Rogers rejected by Middlesbrough.

The Stamford Bridge side appear eager to conduct some transfer business in January before the window closes, in a bid to boost their hopes of climbing up the Premier League table and secure a place in European competition next season.