Chelsea could use €77m Saudi move to get big money for underused playmaker | OneFootball

Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran was linked with Chelsea all summer, although he never made the move. They weren’t the only team interested, and West Ham pursued the Colombian all of this January.

In the end, it looks like he’s going to make the most boring move of all – going to Saudi Arabia. One of the Premier League’s real maverick players is off to “get the bag.” Sky Sports are reporting his fee is agreed and his medical passed, with the striker now just needing to fly out and sign the contract later today.

https://twitter.com/SkySportsPL/status/1884941970205790300

It’s a shame for Chelsea, who could have had a far better season with the dynamic number 9 in their ranks. But it does mean an opportunity. Villa are set to get something in the region of €70m for their backup striker, and will want to spend it on reinforcements before the window shuts on Monday night.

Chelsea can capitalise on cash rich Villa to improve their squad

Joao Felix trains watched by Enzo Maresca.

One player they’ve been linked to in recent weeks is Joao Felix. Ben Jacobs is the latest to reiterate that “they retain interest” in the playmaker even now. Villa have also sold Emi Buendia in recent days, meaning a very Felix shaped hole in their squad.

It won’t be an easy deal to pull off. Felix only signed for us in the summer for around £45m, and there’s no way we will want to take a loss on that. But he’s struggling to pick up minutes, and is only going to grow more unhappy and less valuable.

Capitalising on a newly cash rich Villa to get this problem off our hands could be a genius move, if we can pull it off. That would give us a cash injection to spend on a player who can make more of an impact than Felix has.