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Chelsea were 'really, really close' to completing a summer transfer deal with Aston Villa to bring Jhon Duran to Stamford Bridge, it has emerged in a new transfer revelation from Fabrizio Romano.

It was no secret that the Blues were in the market for added firepower up top during the window with plentiful links with Napoli man Victor Osimhen and Brentford striker Ivan Toney. Both those strikers did secure moves, Osimhen to Galatasaray and Toney to Al-Ahli, as Enzo Maresca focused transfer attention elsewhere.

One Premier League striker who ended up in the centre of a heated transfer debacle was Villains man Duran. The 20-year-old had been hotly tipped to complete a move to West Ham, even seen holding up a Hammers sign on social media, but a deal couldn't be reached between the two clubs.

The London club had bid £32 million for Duran, who managed just 462 minutes in the top flight last season, but Aston Villa remained firm on a £40 million asking price. The Hammers instead turned to bring in Niclas Fullkrug from Borussia Dortmund for a reported £27 million.

However, West Ham weren't the only Premier League side close to snapping up Duran. In his latest briefing, as picked up by GIVEMESPORT, Romano wrote: "Against Bayern, he scored the winner on a historical night for Aston Villa, but Jhon Duran was actually really, really, really close to becoming a new Chelsea player at some point over the summer transfer window.

“It was before the beginning of the Euros. In that moment, early June, Chelsea and Aston Villa almost agreed on every part of the deal, which included Conor Gallagher.

" was a priority target for Unai Emery and for Aston Villa, but the real issue in this story was that Conor Gallagher rejected the move, particularly because of the timing as he wanted to represent England. The deal collapsed, but Jhon Duran was a really strong candidate for Chelsea."

Both West Ham and Chelsea may be regretting their inability to finalise a deal with Aston Villa as Duran has dazzled so far this season. The striker has six goals in fewer than 300 minutes of football, with that winner over Bayern Munich managing to get the football world talking.

Duran has also scored against West Ham, Leicester City, Everton and Wolves in the Premier League and against Wycombe Wanderers in the Carabao Cup. As a result of his form, TEAMtalk reported last week that the Midlands outfit are now valuing the youngster at a staggering £80 million, double the price quoted this summer.