Jhon Duran in messy Aston Villa situation as West Ham United transfer off
West Ham United’s move for Jhon Duran is currently off and things “could get messy” for the striker at Aston Villa, according to Graeme Bailey.
The journalist said that with the Hammers unwilling to pay Villa’s £40million asking price for the 20-year-old striker, the Colombian will be left with an uncertain future and is not in Unai Emery’s plans.
Despite several bids being made and Duran reportedly wanting the move to the London Stadium, the Irons couldn’t come to an agreement with Villa and now look set to move on to other options.
Speaking to astonvilla.news (31 July), Bailey said: “As it stands the Duran deal is off, Villa are standing firm on their valuation and the player has made it clear he wants to move.
“Will West Ham come back for him? It’s hard to tell given there are options available to them.
“The ball is in Villa’s court now, if they don’t drop from £40million then he isn’t leaving – but they are left with a player who they don’t want and who wants to leave – it could get messy.”
Jhon Duran transfer to West Ham now looks unlikely
Julen Lopetegui and the Hammers’ hierarchy baulking at a £40m price tag for a 20-year-old striker with just five Premier League goals to his name is hardly a surprising turn of events [Sky Sports, 29 July] – and arguably a wise one.
Duran may have plenty of potential to take the Irons to the next level, but given his only consistent appearances at Villa Park have mainly come off the bench, shelling out such a fee would have been risky.
With the club now looking at much more established options instead – like Germany international Niclas Fullkrug [Dharmesh Sheth, 29 July] – it’s clear the Hammers feel that £40m of their transfer budget is better spent elsewhere.
They’re quite right to think so too, with the number nine role far from the only position requiring attention this summer as Lopetegui looks to rebuild the existing squad ahead of his first season in charge.
With other attackers, central defenders and right-backs all on the Irons’ wish-list, Lopetegui and co. may be glad to have saved £40m on Duran come the end of the transfer window.
In other West Ham news, an injured star has joined up with the Hammers’ squad as he continues his recovery in pre-season.
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