Chelsea have been authorized to negotiate contract terms with their primary striker target as a £40 million transfer edges nearer.
Matt Law’s latest update on Chelsea’s pursuit of Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran indicates that the Blues have been granted permission to negotiate personal terms with the Colombian forward.
According to Matt Law, Chelsea are currently in discussions regarding personal terms and conducting background checks on Duran. He mentions that a potential deal worth up to £40 million is broadly agreed upon, although there are still obstacles to overcome.
The move for Duran would provide budgetary relief for Villa, who reportedly have an interest in Chelsea players Conor Gallagher and Ian Maatsen. While a direct swap deal seems unlikely, discussions surrounding Duran are closely linked to potential transfers involving Chelsea players.
This development suggests that Chelsea have reached an agreement on a transfer fee with Villa, or at least progressed far enough in negotiations for both clubs to allow Chelsea to initiate talks on personal terms with Duran.
Given Chelsea’s cautious approach this summer, likely influenced by past incidents like the Michael Olise situation, where Crystal Palace felt Chelsea had acted improperly in contacting the player without permission, the club is proceeding carefully in their dealings.