Agent 'getting involved' as stunning Aston Villa and Chelsea swap deal gains traction

Villa are set for an action-packed summer transfer window after qualifying for next season’s instalment of Europe’s most elite competition, the UEFA Champions League. But for incoming business to be completed, there must first be sales as a tightrope is being walked with the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules.

One option that might be considered is trading players with another team and that’s exactly what’s being touted, even before the summer window has officially opened. Villa are keen on signing Conor Gallagher to bolster Unai Emery’s midfield, while Chelsea have been tracking Jhon Duran for a long while.

It’s been reported widely that a swap deal could be considered to satisfy all parties and now Duran’s agent has gotten involved. The representative has stirred the pot somewhat, confirming Mauricio Pochettino’s recent exit from Stamford Bridge won’t impact any deal.

Jonathan Herrera said, via Sun Sport: "The interest has always been there. The situation with Pochettino shouldn’t affect anything, the one who wants him is the club. Now the market is opening up, the club is looking at some options and so are we."

Duran, a full Colombia international with eight caps, has scored eight goals for Villa since signing from Chicago Fire for a fee in the region of £17 million. He was recently a brace-scoring hero as the Villans drew 3-3 with Liverpool, spoiling Jürgen Klopp’s final Premier League away day.

Gallagher, meanwhile, is living the dream at Chelsea as a boyhood fan and an academy graduate at Cobham. The Blues must also make sales, however, and Gallagher’s contract has just 13 months left to run. Emery has outlined the 12-time England international as a midfield target alongside Luton Town’s Ross Barkley.