Chelsea is considering offloading Joao Felix in a swap deal to secure Aston Villa’s Jhon Duran. The Portuguese forward, who joined Chelsea for £45m last summer, has struggled for game time under Enzo Maresca.
With just three league starts this season, Felix is behind Cole Palmer, Noni Madueke, Pedro Neto, and Jadon Sancho in the pecking order.
Frustrated by his limited role, Felix is open to leaving before the January transfer window closes. Villa is leading the race to sign him, with Unai Emery long admiring the 25-year-old.
While several European clubs are interested, Villa provides a chance to remain in the Premier League.
Chelsea is open to Felix’s departure if an agreement can be reached, potentially bringing in Duran as part of the deal.
The young striker has played a backup role to Ollie Watkins, attracting interest from Arsenal and West Ham.
Mikel Arteta is eager to strengthen his attack, while new West Ham boss Graham Potter remains keen despite Villa rejecting a £57m bid.
With Chelsea slipping from second to sixth and Nicolas Jackson struggling to score, Maresca is considering reinforcements.
Meanwhile, Emery, when asked about Duran’s future, stated his focus remains on keeping the player at Villa.
Felix previously spent half a season on loan at Chelsea before making his move permanent. Now, his Stamford Bridge future hangs in the balance.