Forget Ollie Watkins - This is the player Chelsea should be trying to sign from Aston Villa

They say god loves a trier. If that’s the case, the almighty must have a real soft spot for Todd Boehly. Window after window, blank cheque after blank cheque, the American businessman keeps plugging away at his ill-fated Chelsea project, like a man attempting to salvage a sinking boat with a colander. His is a Sisyphean plight - endless, futile, and seemingly only ever one or two steps away from a contentment that will never manifest.

Todd’s latest obsession, according to the back page oracles, has taken the form of Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins. It is understood that the England international is in talks with his current club over a new contract, but could be open to an exit if they fail to meet his demands on a £7.8 million annual salary. Boehly, for his part, is multiplying that figure by eight as we speak.

But is there a better way? (Yes. Yes there is. Maybe.) You see while nobody can knock Chelsea, with all of their attacking ineptitudes, for flashing their ankle in the general direction of an Aston Villa forward, the thinking man might suggest that the Blues are chasing the wrong one. In recent weeks, we have witnessed the rapid, frightening advent of Jhon Duran - the Colombian with his name like a mild typo - who is slowly but steadily proving himself to be a fearsome force in the final third.

Already this term, the teenager has scored four times in nine appearances - although it is worth emphasising that six of those outings have come from the bench. A far more accurate portrayal of his contribution in front of goal would be to point out that he is averaging a strike every sixty minutes. Chelsea’s squad as a whole, on average, have scored once every 108 minutes so far this season.

Evidently, then, Duran knows where the back of the net is, but the glimpses we have seen so far this term would suggest that his game is about an awful lot more than poaching chances or blunt force bludgeonry. For one thing, there is a pleasing variety to his finishing. If his recent effort against Crystal Palace doesn’t win some kind of Goal of the Month competition it will be a minor travesty. And then there is his movement, sharp and intelligent, and his hold-up play, powerful and neat. In short, he is evolving into a very well-rounded centre forward.

Would he be good enough to instantly slot in and lead the line for Chelsea? Perhaps not right now, but if he continues on his current trajectory, he will be very soon. And when he does reach that level (we only deal in absolutes here) Duran will be worth a considerable wedge more than he is at the present moment in time.

Chelsea have developed this rather unfortunate habit in recent years of paying massively over the odds for players who have been allowed to build a reputation for themselves elsewhere. Prising Duran away from Villa Park would be a wonderful way to start bucking that trend.