Chelsea weighing up shock revival of £40m Aston Villa deal after Brentford blow

Jhon Duran could be the subject of a dramatic transfer deadline day move with Chelsea reportedly considering making a late swoop for the Colombian.

The Blues backed out of a £40 million deal for Duran at the start of the summer as they moved onto other attacking targets instead. Transfer news specialist Fabrizio Romano has made it clear Chelsea’s priority is signing Victor Osimhen from Napoli but the Nigerian appears to be closing in on a switch to the Saudi Pro League.

It’s a complicated situation as Al-Ahli have agreed deals to sign both Osimhen and Brentford star Ivan Toney. Romano states, however, that sealing transfers for both players isn’t seen as a possibility by the Saudi Arabian club.

Chelsea have also been linked with a move for Toney in recent days but appear to have been a dealt a blow in that regard, as the Brentford man is undergoing medical tests for his Saudi move. With so much up in the air, the Blues, determined to land another striker, are considering many options.

The Times reports Chelsea are even weighing up signing Duran as a possibility, with Brighton & Hove Albion attacker Evan Ferguson another on the shortlist. Although it’s unlikely that moves will materialise for either player, anything can happen on deadline day.

It’s understood that Villa would be open the sale of Duran, but only if a suitable bid is received. Unai Emery would prefer to keep the striker but the best interests of the club will be prioritised. The Villans rejected several offers in the region of £30-35 million from West Ham United earlier in the window.