Chelsea are reportedly closing in on a move for Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran (AMA/Getty)
Chelsea have agreed a £42 million deal to sign Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran, according to reports in Colombia.
Chelsea have been in the market to sign an additional centre-forward to provide competition for Nicolas Jackson, who finished the season with 17 goals but faced criticism over his inconsistency.
Duran, meanwhile, joined Villa in an £18 million deal from MLS side Chicago Fire 17 months ago but the Colombia international has struggled to secure a regular role.
This season, Duran started just three games in the Premier League with Unai Emery preferring Ollie Watkins as his first-choice striker alongside Leon Bailey and Moussa Diaby in attack.
Chelsea had expressed an interest in signing Duran in the January transfer window and according to Colombia’s Guillermo Arango, the club have now reached an agreement with Villa over a £42m transfer fee.
Arango reports that Chelsea are now in talks with Duran over his contract.
Jhon Duran started just three Premier League games for Aston Villa this season (PA)
Speaking last month, Duran’s agent Jonathan Herrera, suggested that the striker was unhappy with his lack of playing time at Villa.
‘He is a player who has a contract with Aston Villa, he ended up doing very well and the coach is counting on him, it is a club that, having got into the Champions League is a great opportunity, but we know he wants to play, he wants to go out and play, we are going to see,’ Herrera told El VBar Caracol.
‘Now the market is opening up, the club is looking at some options and so are we.’
Speaking specifically about Chelsea’s interest in Duran, Herrera insisted that Mauricio Pochettino’s departure would not have an impact on the club’s transfer plans.
‘The interest has always been there,’ Herrera said.
‘The fact that Pochettino continues or leaves the club [shouldn’t affect], the one who want him in the end is the club.
‘He is a player that if they change coach or not, we will see what happens, but there has always been interest. Let’s see how we can handle it and make sure Aston Villa are ready.’
Villa, meanwhile, are also on the verge of selling Douglas Luiz to Juventus, with the Serie A club paying a €20 million (£16.8m) transfer fee and including United States midfielder Weston McKennie and 20-year-old winger Samuel Iling-Junior as part of the deal.
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Chelsea news, exclusives and analysis
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.