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Chelsea will consider using wantaway forward Joao Felix in a deal to sign Arsenal and West Ham target Jhon Duran from Aston Villa, according to reports.
Felix only joined Chelsea last summer in a £45m deal from Atletico Madrid, but is already being tipped to leave after a frustrating spell at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea’s wealth of attacking options has restricted Felix to just three league starts this season, the Portugal international behind the likes of Cole Palmer, Noni Madueke, Pedro Neto and Jadon Sancho in Enzo Maresca’s pecking order.
Felix has grown frustrated with his reduced role in west London and is open to leaving Chelsea before the January transfer window closes next week.
Aston Villa appear to be leading the race to sign Felix having opened talks with Chelsea earlier in the week.
Unai Emery is a known admirer of Felix having tried to sign him before Chelsea secured his signature last summer.
A number of European clubs are also interested in Felix but Villa, currently eighth, would give the 25-year-old the chance to stay in the Premier League.
Chelsea will sanction Felix’s departure if a suitable agreement can be reached and could try to sign Duran from Villa as part of the deal, according to talkSPORT.
Duran has been linked with a move away from Villa Park after playing second fiddle to England striker Ollie Watkins all season.
Arsenal have expressed interest in signing Duran as Mikel Arteta desperately looks to bolster his attacking options before the winter window closes.
New West Ham boss Graham Potter, meanwhile, is also keen to work with Duran and has not been deterred by Villa rejecting a £57m offer from the Hammers.
Chelsea are considering signing Duran following a difficult period for the team, who have slipped from second to sixth in the space of a month.
Current first-choice striker, Nicolas Jackson, has gone seven games without a goal and it is often suggested he is not at the level required.
Speaking earlier in the season, Blues boss Maresca named Felix as one of three Chelsea player who ‘deserve to start’.
Aston Villa manager Emery was asked about the speculation surrounding Duran following his team’s 1-1 draw with West Ham on Sunday.
The circumstances in this moment are not helping us to be 100% focused,’ Emery told Sky Sports.
‘But Jhon Duran is our player and I am happy with him. I want him here with us. I want him here.’
Felix spent the second-half of the 2022-23 season on loan at Chelsea before returning to Stamford Bridge on a permanent transfer last summer.
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