Real Madrid monitoring Premier League striker but face is competition from Chelsea - Reports

Real Madrid have expressed interest in signing Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran. According to Football Insider, the Colombian, who has also been linked with Chelsea, has emerged as a target for Los Blancos.

Duran has shown his talent in limited time for the Villans. He has scored six goals in nine games across competitions this season, all coming off the bench in just 297 minutes of action. Notably, he bagged the lone goal with a sensational strike in Villa's stunning win over Bayern Munich in the Champions League in midweek.

Chelsea were already interested in the 20-year-old in the summer, with a report claiming that a swap deal involving Conor Gallagher was in the works. However, a move did not materialize and the Blues pursued other targets.

Real Madrid, meanwhile, already boast a formidable attack consisting of the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr, and Rodrygo. However, with the departure of Joselu, they lack a true central striker and Duran could be a solid rotational option to help decrease the load off their other stars.

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Real Madrid star opens up on his departure from Chelsea

Real Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger spoke on his Chelsea departure to join the Spanish giants. The Germany international shared that uncertainty over his future at Stamford Bridge coupled with the opportunity to play for Los Blancos motivated him to make the switch.

He said on The Inside Scoop podcast:

"There was a massive period of no talks, sometimes you have in your mind okay let's not get injured but I didn't do this, I was still playing at my best. I also knew in my mind that the Champions League we won can be my ticket to the biggest club in the world, Real Madrid does not come knocking often."

The 31-year-old left Stamford Bridge in the summer of 2022 on a free transfer after his contract expired. Reports suggest that the change in Chelsea ownership at the time resulted in difficulties in negotiations with the defender, eventually leading to his departure. He joined the Blues from Roma in 2017 and made 203 appearances across competitions for the English giants, winning a Champions League and a Europa League among other honors.

Rudiger is a vital player for Real Madrid, becoming a reliable option in central defense. He has made 112 appearances for the Spanish giants, winning the Champions League and the La Liga title among other honors.