Earlier this week, shortly after the departure of Mauricio Pochettino was confirmed, the agent of an £18 million Premier League forward spoke out about what impact the manager’s exit could have on his client’s potential move to Chelsea.
And Pochettino’s farewell, he says, will have no impact at all.
Jhon Duran, after all, was not a Pochettino target but a club target. It says a lot about the different direction Aston Villa and Chelsea have gone in of late that a man who started only three league games in 2023/24 for the former would find game time easier at the latter.
Thanks to the form of Ollie Watkins and the lack of genuine reliable goalscorers in West London, Duran might actually be better off in blue than claret.
“Jhon Duran has a long-term contract,” Jonathan Herrera, the Colombian’s agent, tells Caracol. “He ended up doing things very well and the coach is counting on him. it is a club that, having gotten into the Champions League, is a great opportunity.
“But we know that he wants to play. He wants to go out and play. Let’s see. Now, the market is opening. The club is looking at some options and so are we.”
“The interest (from Chelsea) has always existed. The fact that Pochettino leaves the club (should not affect what happens). The one who wants him, in the end, is the club. There has always been an interest.”
Chelsea eyeing more South American talent
Herrera, meanwhile, is not the only agent speaking out about a potential switch to Chelsea for a talented young South American attacker. Chelsea, who are already expected to snap up Estevao Willian in a £60 million deal from Palmeiras, are in pursuit of CD Talleres’ Paraguayan speedster Ramon Sosa too.
Daniel Campos, Sosa’s representative, confirmed back in January that he had held discussions with director Kevin Thelwell, Everton keen on the versatile 24-year-old.
If Everton are to re-ignite their interest this summer – FFP depending of course given Sosa’s £16 million asking price – they will now face competition from a club who clearly have no qualms betting big on the best cross-Atlantic prospects.
“I spoke with Chelsea’s sporting director,” Campos says via Popular, although without confirming if it was Laurence Stewart or co-director Paul Winstanley he held discussions with.
“They are taking (Sosa) into consideration.”
Agent has held Chelsea and Everton talks for Ramon Sosa
In a boost to Everton’s hopes, Campos says that Sosa is not Chelsea’s primary target, even if he is on their radar.
“He is not the first option,” the agent adds. “There are many who want him, but let’s see who decides (to make a move).”
Sosa has seven goals and six assists in the 2024 Argentinian season. The forward, who can play anywhere across the frontline, admitted earlier this week that it is his dream to join Miguel Almiron, Julio Enciso and co in the English Premier League.
“(The interest) is a source of pride,” says Sosa, capped eight times by Paraguay.
“There is a lot of talk about the Premier League. It is nice because (playing in England) is a dream that I have and I want to fulfil. I hope it comes true.”
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