Chelsea suffer major blow in pursuit of £80m-rated striker: Reports

Chelsea's hopes of signing Aston Villa forward Jhon Duran have been dashed as the Colombian international has signed a new contract keeping him at the Midlands club until 2030.

Duran, valued at £80 million, had been on the Blues' radar this summer, with the Blues previously close to securing his signature, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano (via Football Transfer).

Despite strong interest from Stamford Bridge, Duran has opted to remain at Villa Park, where his recent performances have earned him a new deal, as Aston Villa announced on Monday.

Romano revealed that the clubs had nearly wrapped up the details of the move by early June, just ahead of the Euros.

The Blues had targeted the Colombian forward as a key addition, with Aston Villa manager Unai Emery particularly keen to bring in Gallagher as part of the deal. But Gallagher’s focus on representing England this summer disrupted the arrangement, leaving Duran to stay put at Villa Park.

Since then, Duran has been a revelation, scoring six goals in 297 minutes this season, including the winner in Villa's historic victory over Bayern Munich. Despite limited minutes, he has proven himself a critical asset off the bench and his new contract now solidifies his place at the club for the foreseeable future.

For the London giants, missing out on Duran represents a significant setback as they continue to seek reinforcements. However, despite the new contract in place, the Blues could continue their pursuit of the prolific marksman.

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Chelsea eye Hellas Verona star as Romeo Lavia struggles with injury - Reports

As Chelsea heads into the international break, they are reportedly exploring options to bolster their midfield due to Romeo Lavia’s ongoing injury struggles.

The 20-year-old, who joined the Blues from Southampton in the summer of 2023 for £58 million, has been plagued by injuries, limiting him to just four appearances in the first team.

According to Tuttomercatoweb, CFC scouts have identified Hellas Verona’s Reda Belahyane as a potential replacement. Scouts from the club were present at Verona’s recent 2-1 victory over Venezia, closely watching Belahyane’s performance.

The young midfielder has impressed since joining Verona from Nice and is said to model his game on former Chelsea star N’Golo Kante.

With the international break offering Enzo Maresca time to reflect on the season so far, Belahyane’s growing reputation in Serie A has caught the attention of Chelsea's recruitment team.

If Lavia fails to return to pace, Chelsea might look to soon realize their interest in Belahyane.