West Ham United want to sign Jhon Duran from Aston Villa [Credit: Imago]
West Ham United want to sign Jhon Duran from Aston Villa [Credit: Imago]
Match

West Ham United transfer fate sealed as Jhon Duran development emerges at Aston Villa

Harri Burton
Harri Burton

Senior Correspondent AUTHORITY Senior football journalist specialising in refereeing and officiating; former contributor to The Football League Paper, Late Tackle, and the Premier League; University of Derby graduate. FOCUS Refereeing controversies, football finance and governance, PGMOL decisions, and officiating analysis across the Premier League, EFL, and SPFL. THE INSIGHT Harri utilises a network of officiating and industry contacts to deliver verified, expert analysis of refereeing decisions and PGMOL policy. He provides the regulatory clarity behind the controversy to ensure fans get the full picture.

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West Ham have definitely missed out on the chance to sign Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran following a summer of transfer drama.

The Hammers are said to have offered £43million, plus a percentage of any future sale, for the Colombian forward, as per Fabrizio Romano, but he ended up staying at Villa Park instead.

That decision already looks to have rubbed salt into the wounds at the London Stadium, with Duran scoring six goals this season, one of which came against the Hammers and another in the Champions League versus Bayern Munich.

Frustrations have been worsened further by the purchase of Niclas Fullkrug for £27million this summer as he continues to struggle with a new injury [BBC Sport], though he could return to the squad after the international break [GiveMeSport].

Some fans were holding onto hope of the Hammers going back into the transfer market either in January or next summer, with Duran still very much a target at the London Stadium. That hope has now vanished.

Jhon Duran puts pen to paper on new Aston Villa deal after West Ham United transfer saga

Aston Villa announced [7 October] that Duran has signed a new contract with the Villans, extending his stay until 2030, a deal which is understood to include an "important" salary rise [Fabrizio Romano].

The Hammers' chances of signing the 20-year-old striker are now dead and buried, especially with Villa now valuing him at around £80million following his recent performances, as per TEAMtalk.

Given his displays in the Champions League, and showing Ollie Watkins up in the Premier League off the bench, it really comes as no surprise, but it still hurts knowing West Ham came close to signing him.

While things finally look to be on the up following the 4-1 win over Ipswich Town on Saturday 5 October, the attacking trio of Fullkrug, Michail Antonio and Danny Ings is persuading no one.

In other West Ham news, Julen Lopetegui could still drop a Hammers "maverick" after what happened v Ipswich Town.

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Aston Villa
Jhon Duran
West Ham
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