Chelsea handed blow as striker target moves to Saudi

Chelsea have been handed a massive blow with Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran set to move to the Saudi Pro League with Al-Nassr.

The Colombian star was a top target for the Blues last summer, but a deal did not materialise due to the reported £45 million valuation.

Duran ended up staying with the Midlands outfit. After netting 12 goals in the season, he has now agreed to join Al-Nassr in the Middle East.

The 21-year-old will leave for a reported £64m fee. The news is a huge setback for Chelsea, who were hoping to revive their pursuit.

Chelsea were exploring a part-exchange deal for Duran with Joao Felix and Axel Disasi moving the other way before the deadline.

However, that is no longer on the cards. Duran has undergone his Al-Nassr medical and will be signing his contract in the next 24 hours.

Chelsea have identified Mathys Tel as an alternative, but they face huge competition from the likes of Tottenham, Manchester United and Arsenal.