Todd Boehly to seal £40m signing for Enzo Maresca without paying a penny
Todd Boehly’s wizardry in the coming weeks might allow Chelsea to recruit Jhon Duran, a striker for Aston Villa, for nothing at all. Duran is rumored to be interested in joining the Blues at Stamford Bridge, as Enzo Maresca is eager to bolster his offensive line.
Duran was connected to Chelsea during the January transfer window, but it was said that Villa was unwilling to make a mid-season trade. But since Maresca gave the inclusion of at least one new forward priority, it appears that the move may be reviewed soon.
Birmingham Live reports that Villa would think about selling Duran for a high price in order to help them comply with Premier League financial regulations. The report also states that a deal could be done for around £40million, but Chelsea might be tempted to pursue another strategy that would help them save money
The Blues could propose a straight swap with Ian Maatsen, who looks to have no future at Stamford Bridge despite impressing on loan at Borussia Dortmund. The left-back has reportedly emerged as a target for Villa, with Fabrizio Romano claiming that Unai Emery would like to snap him up.
Dortmund are said to be keen on bringing Maatsen back on a permanent basis but the two clubs are nowhere close to agreeing a transfer fee. The Dutchman is thought to have a £35m release clause written into his contract, but Dortmund are reportedly unwilling to shell out that much money at this stage.
Given that both Duran and Maatsen both have similar price tags, it seems plausible that a straight swap could be arranged between Chelsea and Villa. This would see the Blues land Duran without any money exchanging hands, representing a significant coup for Maresca in his first summer window.
Such a move would also give Chelsea more financial power to secure a move for Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise, who is reportedly considered a top target. He is said to have a release clause of £60m and is likely to demand a hefty wage increase to join the Blues before the start of next season.
It is said that Villa have already discussed the possibility of signing Maatsen in negotiations with Chelsea over a potential move for Duran. A swap deal would appear to be a logical solution that would suit all parties, but it remains to be seen how the situation will eventually play out.