Aston Villa rage at Jhon Duran to West Ham transfer development
West Ham have angered Aston Villa in their pursuit of Jhon Duran, according to The Guardian.
The newspaper reports in its print edition (page 47, 21 December) that the Villans are “livid” with the timing of the latest Hammers’ offer.
The Irons tabled a £57million bid on 20 January for the Colombian forward which the Midlands club swiftly rejected. [David Ornstein]
It is stated that Unai Emery’s side does not want to sell the 21-year-old, who is under contract until 2030, and that Graham Potter is not expected to come back with another bid.
West Ham leave Aston Villa raging at transfer twist
The Hammers are desperate to make a signing in the attacking department after summer addition Niclas Fullkrug was ruled out for three months.
Michail Antonio and top goalscorer Jarrod Bowen are also ruled out for significant periods, so the Irons lack goals at the moment.
The move for Duran was always going to be an unlikely one, with the player signing a new deal with Villa recently and interest from clubs that are higher in the food chain, such as Paris Saint-Germain.
One thing that the bid does show is that the East London club has the financial capability to spend this month if they need to.
The board must now ensure that a striker is brought in, otherwise, there will be no chance for Potter to turn the season around and supporters will be furious.
If the money was there for Duran, then it is there for a different target or several, the owners must not leave the club without the required personnel.
If only they did this in the summer.
In other West Ham news, the Hammers are lining up a transfer for a Swiss star after a medical drama curtailed his move to a different club.
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