The eye-catching swap deal including Chelsea and Aston Villa that would surprise the Premier League

Chelsea are currently sat in 6th in the Premier League table and are only a point off the top four as they look to get back into the Champions League. They were beaten 3-1 away at Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium last time out.

Enzo Maresca was picked as their manager last summer. Prior to his switch to Stamford Bridge, he guided Leicester City to the Championship title.

As for Aston Villa, they are currently trying to juggle European football with their league duties. They have drawn their last two league matches against Arsenal and West Ham.

The Midlands outfit have the chance to bolster their ranks before the end of the January transfer window. They also have the opportunity to let some players leave.

Why Jhon Duran would be ideal for Chelsea

Jhon Duran has been Aston Villa’s super sub this season and he has a very bright future ahead of him in the game. At the age of 21, he has bags of potential and would be an ideal addition for Chelsea down the line.

Maresca is a great mentor for young players and he would fit the bill for the Blues. They would give him the platform to fully express himself on the top stage.

The Colombia international moved to Villa Park back in 2023 and arrived as a bit of an unknown quantity from Chicago Fire in MLS. He has since adapted well to life in England though and will be a man in-demand.

Duran has made 78 appearances for Aston Villa in all competitions to date and has chipped in with 20 goals, 12 of which have come in this campaign. His contract expires until 2030 so his current club are under no pressure to sell him just yet and can wait for the right offer to come in for his signature if they are to consider letting him go.

Emery has recently said: “The circumstances (transfer speculation) in this moment are not helping us to be 100% focused. But Jhon Duran is our player and I am happy with him. I want him here with us. I want him here.”

Joao Felix fits the bill for Aston Villa

If Chelsea are to make a swoop for Duran, they should use Joao Felix as part of a swap deal. It was a surprise to see him end up with the Blues for a second time last summer.

The 25-year-old had a loan spell with them back in 2023 and didn’t exactly set the world alight. He isn’t a regular starter at the moment and a change of scene would do him good.

Felix said after returning: “I’m really happy to be back at Chelsea and I can’t wait to get started. I can see some familiar faces from the last time I was here, which is always nice."

He would be an exciting coup for Aston Villa and bringing him in would be a statement of intent. The Portugal international needs games at this stage of his career and he would be able to get that under the reliable Emery in abundance.

Felix is the type of player who can get fans off their seats if he is given the chance to get regular minutes and prove himself. If Villa are to consider cashing in on Duran to a team like Chelsea, they would get some decent money and need to ensure that they reinvest it back into their squad very wisely.