“Nothing done yet”- Fabrizio Romano gives the latest on Chelsea pursuit of Aston Villa star

Fabrizio Romano claims John Duran is open to moving to Chelsea

Fabrizio Romano has provided an update on Chelsea target Jhon Duran, stating that the striker is open to joining the West Londoners. However, as of now, nothing has been finalized, and talks between Chelsea and Aston Villa are set to begin.

Chelsea has identified Duran as a potential addition to their striker lineup, hoping to bolster their attacking options before the new season starts. Despite Duran’s limited contribution to Villa’s fourth-place finish, with Ollie Watkins being Unai Emery’s preferred choice, the Colombian striker still managed to score eight goals in all competitions.

Given his minimal minutes on the pitch at Villa, it seems unlikely that Duran will continue with the club. While Chelsea already has Nicolas Jackson, adding another young striker could be a risky move, but it might also provide valuable depth and competition within the squad.

Considering both Nicolas Jackson and Jhon Duran are still developing, managing their progress will be a significant challenge for the coach. There is no doubt that Duran is highly talented, but he remains raw. This aligns with Chelsea’s current strategy under their new owners, who have emphasized signing young players.

If Chelsea decides to pursue Duran, it won’t be surprising, as they believe in building a squad with young talents crucial for the future. The club appears genuinely interested and could go all the way to sign him. Additionally, Duran would come at a relatively affordable price, rated around €20 million (£17 million), making him a viable option for the Blues.

We also can’t hold the club’s recruitment board responsible, given the current market conditions. With Benjamin Sesko signing a new contract and Victor Osimhen being too costly due to his high release clause, there is a scarcity of talented strikers available.

It’s unclear if Chelsea is genuinely influenced by Ivan Toney’s performance, but the options are limited. The recruitment board is doing its best under challenging circumstances, and pursuing young talents like Jhon Duran might be a strategic move to build for the future.

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Having been selected for the England Euro 2024 team, Ivan Toney will have a prime opportunity to demonstrate why he is still one of the best strikers. A strong performance could potentially persuade Chelsea to pursue him. If they remain unconvinced or the move doesn’t materialize, Jhon Duran remains their most feasible option.

Chelsea’s strategy may ultimately hinge on how Toney performs on the international stage, but the club seems prepared to invest in Duran if necessary, given the scarcity of top-tier strikers currently available in the market.