Chelsea is having second thoughts about signing their £40 million transfer target due to two main reasons.

Chelsea had been considering making a move for Jhon Duran, the talented forward from Aston Villa. However, it seems that their interest has cooled down and they are now having second thoughts about going through with the deal. As they look to strengthen their squad for the upcoming season, signing a new striker to complement their current players, Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku, has become a top priority for the Blues.

Duran had emerged as a surprising target for Chelsea earlier this month, but it seems that Villa's asking price of £40 million has caused Chelsea to hesitate. The Colombia international has gained a reputation for being a bit of a wild card, and while Villa has been happy with his performance during his first season with the club, Chelsea has some reservations, according to sources from the Telegraph.

In addition to the hefty transfer fee, Chelsea has also been put off by Duran's wage demands. The 20-year-old is reportedly asking for a high salary, and Chelsea has already shown this summer that they are not willing to be held for ransom. This was evident when they withdrew from the race to sign Michael Olise, who is now headed to Bayern Munich, due to his excessive salary demands.

Chelsea has been thorough in their evaluation of Duran, conducting background checks before making any decisions. However, with their plans to sign him on hold, they are now exploring other options. One potential target is Hoffenheim's striker Maximilian Beier, who has caught the eye of the Chelsea transfer team.

Under the ownership of Todd Boehly, Chelsea has heavily invested in young talent. As such, they are more inclined to reward their existing players rather than immediately bringing in new signings and pushing them to the top of the wage bill. This approach has worked well for them in the past, and they are keen to continue nurturing their young players.

While their pursuit of Duran may have hit a roadblock, Chelsea is still making moves in the transfer market. They have agreed to a £19 million deal with Villa for teenager Omari Kellyman, who will join their first-team squad for pre-season. However, it is likely that he will be loaned out for the upcoming season to gain more first-team experience.

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