Sensational £52m Aston Villa and Chelsea swap deal 'being considered'

Aston Villa and Chelsea are reportedly considering a sensational swap deal before the end of the January transfer window.

The two clubs have been targeting one another's strikers this month, with Jhon Duran linked with a move to Stamford Bridge and Armando Broja tipped for a transfer to Villa Park. Straight sales have been complicated, however, with Unai Emery not overly keen on losing the depth Duran provides and Chelsea demanding around £35 million for Broja.

HITC Football reports an exchange deal is "on the cards" to benefit both parties, with Chelsea happy to let Broja leave the club if Duran moves in the opposite direction. Villa are said to "like Broja", while Emery isn't the biggest fan of Duran, who joined the Villans from Chicago Fire last January in a deal worth around £17 million.

Broja, a senior Albania international, has netted just eight Premier League goals to date but has shown glimpses of his high potential. Just six goals were netted during his loan at Southampton during the 2021-22 season but his hold-up play was particularly impressive.

Duran, meanwhile, is a full Colombia international and has scored four goals in 35 appearances for Villa, although many of these have been off the bench. Two years younger than Broja and a possesser of more pace, Duran probably has the higher ceiling of the two strikers but they're fairly even on that front.