Chelsea and Manchester City have moved ahead of Barcelona in the race to sign 17-year-old Argentine wonderkid Claudio Echeverri. The talented teenager gained global attention after his standout performances at the U17 FIFA World Cup. Barcelona initially expressed strong interest, offering to pay by installment, the player’s €25 million release clause, due to financial fair play issues. However, Echeverri’s club River Plate, rejected the move, which might now see them lose out in the race for the player. 🚨🔵 Understand both Chelsea and Man City have made contact to be informed on Claudio Echeverri situation. 🔵🔴 Barcelona remain keen but structure of the deal makes it complicated with Financial Fair Play. 🇦🇷 Release clause: €25m, up to €30m in the final days of the market. pic.twitter.com/8b3WLvrJfJ — Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 17, 2023 This financial limitation has opened the door for Premier League powerhouses, Manchester City and Chelsea, to make their moves. Reporter Fabrizio Romano confirmed that both English clubs have initiated contact regarding a potential transfer, putting them in the forefront of the race for Echeverri’s signature.
19-year-old Colombian striker Jhon Duran has been signed by Aston Villa following a £15 million ($18m) deal with MLS outfit the Chicago Fire. 
Duran who is already the second-youngest player to score in the Colombian top flight at the age of 15, became the most expensive foreign signing in MLS history after moving to Chicago from Envigado in January 2021. The Colombia international contributed eight goals and five assists during the 2022 campaign for MLS, getting attention from Manchester United and Liverpool’s scouts. Villa has however announced that they have successfully negotiated a transfer fee with their Chicago Fire counterparts. 
The club said in a statement; “Aston Villa can confirm that an agreement has been reached with Chicago Fire for the permanent transfer of 19-year-old striker, Jhon Duran. “The deal is subject to the player passing a medical, agreeing personal terms and obtaining the necessary work visa.” Should a transfer be completed in due course, Duran will depart Chicago Fire after just one season, his development having previously begun at Engivado FC. 
Villa has moved away from the Premier League relegation zone since Unai Emery replaced Steven Gerrard in October, collecting 13 points from six matches under the Spaniard. They now sit in 11th position in the table, 10 points above the bottom three and just six adrift of sixth-placed Fulham ahead of a trip to Southampton on January 21. 