West Ham could be forced to review new transfer targets after Jhon Duran was spotted wearing the number nine in Aston Villa training.
The Hammers have shown a consistent interest in the Colombia international throughout the window without completing a deal.
The Guardian reported on 26 July that a £35million deal was on the cards with Tim Steidten pushing to complete a deal.
19 days later, the 20-year-old is back in training for the Villans and now looks set to stay on at Villa Park for the new season.
An image from VillaReport on X (14 August) showed the striker wearing the number nine on his training gear at Bodymoor Heath.
Would Villa hand a prestigious number like the number nine which the likes of Juan Pablo Ángel, Dion Dublin and Dwight Yorke have donned, to someone who is set to leave?
Realistically the answer is going to be no which means that the Hammers are probably better placed moving on and assessing new striker options.
They have already brought in Niclas Fullkrug from Borussia Dortmund and have Michail Antonio and Danny Ings waiting in the wings.
The Englishman has been linked with a move away from the club all summer and at 34, Antonio is past his best in Claret and Blue.
This could have seen Duran be a perfect option for Lopetegui as a young, hungry striker to come and earn his stripes at the London Stadium.
Even after his Irons gesture on a livestream, Villa are welcoming him back which hasn't been well received by their supporters.
In other West Ham news, a big-money transfer offer is being prepared for an ex-Chelsea star which looks set to be accepted.
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