Chelsea are reportedly considering including forward Joao Felix in a potential swap deal to secure Aston Villa’s Jhon Duran, amid Felix’s growing frustration with his role at Stamford Bridge.
Felix, who joined Chelsea last summer in a £45 million transfer from Atletico Madrid, has struggled to make an impact due to limited opportunities.
The Portuguese international has started just three league matches this season, falling behind players like Cole Palmer, Noni Madueke, Pedro Neto, and Jadon Sancho in manager Enzo Maresca’s lineup.
His lack of game time has left Felix dissatisfied, and he is open to leaving the club before the January transfer window closes.
Aston Villa has emerged as a frontrunner for his signature, with manager Unai Emery reportedly keen on bringing him to Villa Park. Emery had previously attempted to sign Felix before Chelsea secured his permanent move last summer.
While other European clubs have expressed interest, Aston Villa offers Felix the chance to remain in the Premier League. Talks between Chelsea and Villa are already underway, and the Blues may use Felix as leverage in their pursuit of Villa’s forward, Jhon Duran.
Duran, who has largely played a supporting role to Villa’s main striker Ollie Watkins, has attracted attention from several clubs, including Arsenal and West Ham.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is eager to strengthen his attacking options, while new West Ham boss Graham Potter remains undeterred despite Villa rejecting a £57 million offer for the 19-year-old.
Chelsea’s interest in Duran comes amid the team’s struggles, which have seen them drop from second to sixth place in just a month. First-choice striker Nicolas Jackson has failed to score in his last seven games, raising questions about his suitability for the role.
Blues manager Maresca previously highlighted Felix as one of three players who “deserve to start,” but Felix’s situation appears to have shifted. If a suitable agreement is reached, Chelsea could offload Felix to Villa and bring in Duran as part of the deal, according to reports from talkSPORT.
Villa manager Emery addressed the speculation surrounding Duran after his side’s 1-1 draw with West Ham, emphasizing his desire to keep the young forward. “Jhon Duran is our player, and I am happy with him. I want him here with us,” Emery told Sky Sports.
Felix, who spent the latter half of the 2022-23 season on loan at Chelsea before completing his permanent move, may now find himself at the center of a crucial transfer decision as the window nears its close.
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