West Ham United: Aston Villa respond to January transfer window bid for Jhon Duran, Chelsea’s Armando Broja also wanted – Jacob Steinberg
Aston Villa have rejected a loan-to-buy offer from West Ham for Jhon Duran during the January transfer window, according to Jacob Steinberg.
The Guardian journalist reported via the paper’s website on 21 January that Unai Emery’s side don’t want to let the forward leave this month unless they have brought in a replacement.
Chelsea are also interested in the Colombian, who has scored four goals in all competitions this term following his arrival from MLS last season, and the Irons could now turn their attentions to Stamford Bridge after their rejection at Villa Park.
Armando Broja is also Hammers target and is reported as the potential alternative now that the pursuit of 20-year-old Duran looks to have failed.
Rebuffed
Jarrod Bowen’s return to the squad will be a huge relief to David Moyes who is contending with a dearth of proven options in attack currently.
But while the Englishman has been used as a false-nine at times this term he is most effective cutting in off his spot on the wing, so the need for a regular goal threat at striker hasn’t gone away.
Michail Antonio’s injury problems have arrived on top of his dip in form following a strong start to the season, and in terms of natural alternatives Danny Ings and Divin Mubama have just four West Ham goals between them.
The inability to replace Gianluca Scamacca in the summer was partly offset by the arrival of Mohammed Kudus, but the Ghanian star is not an out-and-out number nine and is currently away at the Africa Cup of Nations anyway.
West Ham can’t necessarily afford to let exit-linked players like Ings leave unless they secure a replacement and have now come up against the same issue at Villa.
Broja is seemingly more available at Chelsea, where the loan-to-buy route is open for the 22-year-old, but neither he nor Duran are prolific goal scorers in the Premier League so far.
In both cases West Ham look to be attempting to land potential more than proven quality but short of shelling out a major transfer fee now that may be the best they can hope for.
In other West Ham news, the Irons still hold out hope of a new contract for an exit-linked ace who has transfer interest this month.
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