Chelsea have flattered to deceive over the past few years but with Enzo Maresca now installed to the dugout, there is a growing belief that Stamford Bridge can enjoy a resurgence.
In fairness, Mauricio Pochettino engineered an impressive second-half-of-season advancement that salvaged Europa Conference League football, but the Argentine's departure was mutually agreed at the end of the term, with Maresca's purposeful ball-centric brand of football viewed as the ideal fit for the project.
Bolstering effectively this summer will be paramount to gaining an edge over rivals, and while Tosin Adarabioyo has already been welcomed to the defence, Chelsea are set on strengthening up front, with a deal believed to be nearing completion.
Chelsea agree exciting deal
According to Football Insider, Chelsea are now in advanced discussions with Aston Villa for the transfer of forward Jhon Duran, with the move possibly completed in the next week after having reached an 'agreement in principle' regarding personal terms.
Fabrizio Romano has since corroborated the claim, and while the 20-year-old is desperate to complete the switch, the Blues are yet to make their final decision.
Duran has enjoyed an impressive breakout campaign at Villa Park, and though a £40m deal has been agreed, it is stressed there are still several obstacles to overcome.
Why Maresca wants Jhon Duran
The tumult and upheaval that have buffeted Stamford Bridge in recent years were never going to be conducive to a successful period on the pitch, but this forgettable epoch is now expected to have been placed in the past, with Maresca crafting a young and aspiring team capable of rising to a position of power among the heaviest hitters in the Premier League.
Duran is not the finished article by any stretch but he proved himself to be a formidable force at a young and unrefined stage of his career, scoring eight goals in all competitions last season, including five in the Premier League despite starting only three matches.
Given that Duran only averaged 22 minutes of match action per top-flight fixture, not even taking a shot per game (0.9), it's evident that he's got the mark of a natural-born goalscorer, though, in truth, his skill set offers so much more.
As per FBref, the Colombia international ranks among the top 14% of forwards across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for aerial duels won and tackles, the top 7% for blocks and the top 1% for clearances per 90. He is not, indeed, merely a goalscorer.
1.
Ollie Watkins
53
27
0.56
2.
Leon Bailey
52
14
0.39
3.
Moussa Diaby
54
10
0.29
3.
Douglas Luiz
53
10
0.21
5.
John McGinn
53
9
0.19
6.
Jhon Duran
37
8
0.65
Duran has actually been described as a "nightmare for defenders" by his Villa captain John McGinn and he would bring a cauldron of chaos to west London's finest frontline.
But that frontline is going to be chopped and changed over the next few months. Duran is at the top of the shopping list at centre-forward, but he's certainly not the only Premier League star coveted by Todd Boehly and Co.
How Chelsea's attack could look in 24/25
Chelsea are pushing to land a new striker but so too are they eyeing up one of English football's most destructive wide forwards. As per Romano, Chelsea are pushing to sign Michael Olise from Crystal Palace.
The 22-year-old, born in England but aspiring for the French national team, endured an injury-hit season but still managed to score ten goals and supply a further six assists from just 19 Premier League matches – including only 14 starts.
He won 5.7 duels and averaged 2.1 dribbles per game to boot and clearly possesses one of the most combative, creative and, in summary, complete styles of any talent forward in Europe, and Chelsea would only rise to another level with him in the team.
Let's just, for one moment, imagine Olise on the right. Shuttling forward with panache and purpose and whipping in those balls that leave commentators with a kind of giddied wonder. Or, alternatively, he could cut inside, stepping across like a cheetah changing pace, before finding space and rifling a shot into the corner.
Ah, but how could we forget Cole Palmer? Chelsea's star man enjoyed quite the campaign after freeing himself from the shackles of bloated sparkle at Manchester City and cementing himself as London's finest during an almighty emergence season, scoring 25 goals and adding 15 assists from 45 matches for Chelsea.
The England international has all the tools in his locker. Olise and Palmer would form a deadly and dynamic partnership that could be perfect for Duran's chances of success, the young striker using his pace and power to skim through the lines and latch onto the creative wizardry of his peers.
It is, no doubt, a tentatively exciting time to be a Chelsea fan. The seeds of success have been placed within firm soil, and while there is much to do to ensure Maresca's arrival is not a false dawn, with such players dotted across the frontline it is hard to imagine that the Blues will not rise above the malaise of recent times.
And all that's without even considering Nicolas Jackson, who has faced his detractors since signing for Chelsea from Villarreal for a fee in excess of £30m last season but scored 17 goals in total and has the all-round game to forge a prosperous career under Maresca.
But Duran would offer assistance, both as a foil and a rival to push and promote growth for both. Chelsea need to get it right this summer to ensure that the canyon dividing them from the top three is narrowed. Duran has demonstrated his talent at Villa Park and now he could take the next step in his promising career by moving to the capital.
£35 million defender wants to join Maresca as Chelsea eye new priority
He’s keen on the move to Stamford Bridge.
ByEmilio GalantiniJun 13, 2024