Chelsea fans have been given a huge update on the club’s links to Karim Benzema in the January transfer window. The former Real Madrid striker and Ballon d’Or winner has been in Saudi Arabia since the start of the season, but there have been suggestions he could be available on loan until the end of the current campaign.
While a number of teams have been linked with a move, few would be able to afford the wages the 36-year-old currently earns. Chelsea would likely be one of the select clubs able to do so, and their need for a striker this season has been well-documented following injuries to Christopher Nkunku and Armando Broja among others.
However, it seems as though a move to the Blues will not be happening in January. The Athletic’s David Ornstein reports that Benzema will not be joining the club, as they are looking to avoid “costly moves for older players” and looking to prioritise signings like Malo Gusto and Cole Palmer, who represent an emerging talent and age profile.
One of the names who is instead linked to Stamford Bridge is Aston villa striker Jhon Duran . While the 20-year-old has only scored two Premier League goals so far this season, the Chelsea hierarchy apparently view him as a player “possessing vast potential”, according to the Athletic.