Chelsea have been given permission to discuss personal terms with Aston Villa’s Jhon Duran, with the striker’s future also key to the Midlands club signing a player from Stamford Bridge.
Telegraph Sport can reveal that as well as Conor Gallagher, Villa have enquired about left-back Ian Maatsen, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Borussia Dortmund.
Maatsen has a £35 million release clause in his contract that Dortmund are not willing to meet, which has opened the door to Villa and other interested clubs.
But Villa will only sign players from Chelsea this summer if Duran completes a move to Stamford Bridge and the west London club are currently discussing personal terms and carrying out background checks on the Colombian.
It is believed that a deal between the two clubs for Duran, which could be worth up to £40 million, is broadly agreed, but there are still hurdles to overcome.
Chelsea would want to put 20-year-old Duran on a long, incentivised contract, rather than putting him straight on big wages and they also want to be sure over his character.
Duran has a reputation of being an unusual character, although Villa sources insist he has never missed training and is not considered to be a so-called ‘bad lad’.
Villa manager Unai Emery has been forced to agree to selling Duran, whose potential is rated as being sky-high in the club, because of profit and sustainability rules that mean they must bring money in to make signings and boost the squad in readiness for a Champions League campaign.
Maatsen reached the Champions League final with Dortmund, producing a series of impressive performances, and is currently with Holland at Euro 2024.