The £40m 'special' striker Chelsea can sign if Victor Osimhen and Ivan Toney moves collapse
The final few hours of the summer transfer window are upon us and we are the stage where desperation could set in
Chelsea have been actively looking to sign a striker to complement their squad. Despite the additions of Marc Guiu and Joao Felix, and with Nicolas Jackson already in the team, both fans and some members of the board feel that the squad would be complete with a top-tier striker.
Throughout the summer, several names have been linked with the club. One of the most prominent is Napoli’s Nigerian striker, and current African Footballer of the Year, Victor Osimhen. However, with just 48 hours remaining in the transfer window, his future remains uncertain. Napoli might prefer to sell him to a Saudi Arabian club where they could recoup at least the €60 million they are asking for, without having to deal with selling to a direct rival in Europe.
Initially, Osimhen was hesitant to move to the Gulf, but the financial offer is substantial—around €30 million net per year. Meanwhile, Chelsea are looking to negotiate his €10 million annual wages to fit within their more stringent wage structure.
There's also the Ivan Toney situation. Reports suggest he is considering a move to Saudi Arabia as well. Toney has been left out of Brentford’s first two games this season, and although nothing has been agreed upon yet, there is a sense that some compromise will be reached. However, questions remain about whether Toney fits Chelsea's preferred age profile, and in any case, he may only serve as a temporary solution.
This is why Chelsea should revive their interest in Aston Villa striker Jhon Durán. While he may not be as prolific as Osimhen or have the same reputation, Durán has the potential to be even better. In the Premier League, having a reliable finisher is crucial, and Durán has already shown his quality, as evidenced by his brilliant finish against West Ham recently. He is tall, physical, and technically gifted—attributes that make him a promising prospect. Reports suggest that he had already agreed to personal terms with Chelsea before the deal fell through earlier this season, prompting the club to look elsewhere.
Chelsea and Aston Villa enjoy a good relationship, as evidenced by the signing of Omari Kellyman and Ian Maatsen, who moved in the opposite direction in what was described as a separate deal. Therefore, completing a deal for Durán should not be too difficult. Durán is highly regarded in his home country, Colombia, where he is seen as the second coming of Radamel Falcao.
Durán has had a decent start to the season, and when manager Unai Emery was asked about the transfer rumours, he simply stated that Durán is a special striker and that he is happy to have him at the club. However, with Ollie Watkins set to be the main striker at Villa, Durán, who has shown interest in joining Chelsea, would likely jump at the chance if given the opportunity.
This situation presents a win-win for all parties. Chelsea would acquire a promising striker at a relatively low cost but with a high ceiling, while Aston Villa would receive good money for a player in a well-stocked position.