Latest developments
- Chelsea have begun talks with Aston Villa regarding Jhon Duran.
- Villa want £84.5 million for the striker.
- West Ham had a bid rejected earlier this week.
Whisper+ analysis
Authenticity (2.5/5): Chelsea expert with exclusive
West Ham putting in bids for Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran has forced Chelsea in action, with the Blues in talks with the Villans over the Colombian.
This news comes from Chelsea reporter Si Phillips, as reported by footballtransfers.com, but the details regarding the sources are pretty light.
Value (2/5): Villa set huge price
Duran has been one of the breakout stars of the Premier League season, averaging better than a goal per 90 minutes, but forced to share game time with Ollie Watkins.
Unlikely to hold onto both for long, Villa have set an asking price of £84.5 million (€100 million), despite his market valuation being just 40% of that, and Chelsea are said to be ready to pay it.
Suitability (4/5): Works in Chelsea's system
A tally of 12 goals this season, including three in the UEFA Champions League, has made Duran one of the hottest prospects in the Premier League.
Capable of scoring at a great rate, Duran now needs to be the undisputed main man at a side which plays with one central striker, which Chelsea are.
Upgrade? (3.5/5): Jackson underrated?
He has had nearly three times as many minutes in which to do it, but Chelsea's Nicolas Jackson is outscoring Duran 9-7 in the league this season.
The Senegalese will not give up his spot quietly, but if Duran continues to show better consistency, the 21-year-old will usurp him as the Blues' go-to frontman.
Logic (3/5): Can't fight Watkins forever
It's an embarrassment of riches for Villa, who have two top-quality strikers while many of their rivals can't find one. Making a huge profit on one of them, while ending potential rifts in the squad, is too good to turn down.
Chelsea might not be the perfect place for Duran to feel like he's the number one striker, but he'll know his place. The Blues paying so much, however, is a risk.
Whisper+ verdict: 15/25
The asking price is very steep, but that's not put Chelsea off before, so this could well go beyond “talks” as the final week of the January transfer window looms.
