Interest in Jhon Duran has never really gone away from Chelsea's point of view.

The Blues tried to land the 21-year-old striker from Aston Villa last summer as the club's sporting directors looked to give Enzo Maresca more options for the No.9 role that was being occupied by Nicolas Jackson. However, not only did they not manage to sign Duran in the end, but the west Londoners failed to get anyone in striker-wise, bar the then 18-year-old Marc Guiu.

Duran stayed put at Villa despite strong interest from West Ham United as well. Going into the season, it looked as if - once again - the Colombian forward would play second fiddle to the impressive Ollie Watkins under manager Unai Emery.

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While this was indeed the case, Duran was making quite the impression from the bench when called upon. In fact, the South American forward bagged four goals in his first five Premier League appearances of the campaign - and they all came from the substitutes' bench.

Fast-forward to the present day and Duran has scored seven times in the Premier League with only 626 minutes to his name - leaving him, on average, with a goal in just less than 90 minutes. That is some return from the Colombian - and it actually works out as being more prolific than any forwards in the current Chelsea squad in the Premier League this term, with the next closest being Cole Palmer (a goal every 144 minutes on average).

Duran offers Chelsea a much-needed alternative to Jackson, who has struggled over the last month. The weight of expectation and the over reliance on the Senegalese striker has seemingly caught up with him. There is no denying the Blues need to recruit in the centre of attack in order for Maresca to be given everything he needs to finish his debut season at Stamford Bridge in the best possible manner.

Aston Villa boss Emery has not started Duran in the Premier League since the defeat to Newcastle United on Boxing Day, when the striker was shown a red card on 32 minutes at St. James' Park. Duran missed the next two league matches through suspension and then returned to the squad for the win against Everton earlier in the month. He didn't come on that day, though, and has been restricted to second-half cameos in the last two league outings against Arsenal and West Ham United.

Speaking last week, Emery was asked about Duran, who remains liked by Chelsea, sources have confirmed, and his future in the Midlands. The Spaniard, though, shut down any rumours and brutally told the striker to focus on his football: "It is not only with Jhon Duran but other players as well [being affected by transfer speculation].

"I am focusing a lot on how we are thinking and planning each match and every player is focusing on it. There can be some rumours to leave from here or come here from other teams. Every team is in the same situation.

"My focus and with the players we have is on the match against West Ham and being professional, mature, responsible and serious. And then, of course, maybe in a few days, some players can leave as well for other teams.

"But the group we have here now has to be professional and responsible and play, focusing on each match. We don't know exactly until the last day of the transfer window how many players we can change in this squad - but on Sunday, we are here with the players we have an 100% focused on the match."

It just so happens as well that Aston Villa hold a firm interest in two Chelsea players. Axel Disasi and Joao Felix are both being targeted by the Premier League side in the final week of the January transfer window, football.london understands. So, there is every chance that Chelsea do ask about Duran's situation during talks with Villa - a method that the sporting directors have done in the past with previous signings.