West Ham ‘drooling over what Jamie Carragher said’ about transfer-linked star
West Ham United and David Sullivan are unlikely to be finished with their quest to sign Aston Villa’s Jhon Duran.
The Hammers’ most recent bid of £57million was rejected by Unai Emery’s side [The Athletic], with the Villans holding out for a much higher fee after tying him down to a new deal until 2030.
Transfer interest does not just vanish overnight, however, especially with Graham Potter currently being without Niclas Fullkrug, Michail Antonio, Jarrod Bowen and Crysencio Summerville.
This has left Lucas Paqueta playing through the middle, with Danny Ings clearly not impressing yet another manager after getting just a handful of minutes under Julen Lopetegui.
With six days left until the winter transfer window slams shut, the Hammers are desperate to add a new striker to their ranks, and Jamie Carragher might have just offered a little bit of hope.
West Ham still in the race to sign Jhon Duran?
Speaking on Sky Sports Premier League [26 January] Carragher discussed the futures of Ollie Watkins and Duran at Villa Park, suggesting that one needs to be sold in order to keep the other happy.
“I’d sell Jhon Duran. It probably goes against the grain of what most football clubs would do,” he said.
“Normally in that situation, you would sell the older one, Ollie Watkins, because you think this guy’s going to be here for a long time but I would try and get an extra £10m for him [Duran].
“I don’t think you’re quite getting the best out of Ollie Watkins, knowing that Duran is going to come on with 15, 20 minutes to go but he [Emery] has to bring him on every game because he is going to be unhappy.”
Watkins has been one of the best Premier League strikers over the last few seasons, boasting 100 goal contributions in the top tier of English football in 169 appearances.
Emery would be foolish to sell the forward just because he is 29 years of age, with still so much to give to the Villans, so Carragher’s thoughts would suggest that Duran will be up for sale soon.
If that line of thought is true, West Ham will be drooling over the thought of signing the 21-year-old Colombian, who continues to be linked with a move to the London Stadium.
Sullivan will just need to put his money where his mouth is once the opportunity arises.
In other West Ham news, a London Stadium spokesperson has dropped a Brian Brobbey transfer update, with the player still in the capital.
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