West Ham United change view on Jhon Duran after major bid made amid interest in Everton ace
West Ham interest in Jhon Duran is said to have “cooled slightly” as the club now intend to focus on alternative striker targets, according to Sky Sports.
An update on the outlet’s website on 15 July (4.15pm) indicated that the Hammers have “explored conditions” of a deal for the Aston Villa striker but a source has indicated they are set to look elsewhere.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin is the only named alternative but the Everton forward is said to be “one of a number” who the Irons have looked at.
According to The Athletic on 12 July Julen Lopetegui and Tim Steidten had identified Duran as their “main offensive transfer target” this summer after Fabrizio Romano reported on 9 July that an offer of £35million plus a 10 per-cent sell-on had been made.
West Ham like Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Aston Villa forward
Duran isn’t going to be cheap by the looks of things and Villa’s move for Everton midfielder Amadou Onana at around £50m [Sky Sports, 15 July] won’t have done anything to change that.
The Colombian clearly has quality and continues to interest clubs in a deal despite being comprehensively second choice for Unai Emery behind Ollie Watkins.
But he remains unproven as a regular starter in the Premier League and the 20-year-old currently has eight goals in 49 Villa appearances in all competitions.
Calvert-Lewin on the other hand could be more affordable as he has entered the final year of his contract at Goodison Park and already has 54 top flight goals to his name.
But the 27-year-old has had a nightmare time with injuries in recent years before a return to more regular availability under Sean Dyche last term.
Divin Mubama has already left after rejecting contract offers and both Michail Antonio and Danny Ings have been linked with moves away for some time as well so more than one striker might be needed this summer.
Antonio is 34 and his goal output is declining year on year while Ings is 31 and barely has a Hammers goal output to speak of.
Signing Duran and a senior option such as Calvert-Lewin therefore might make a lot of sense but whether the budget stretches that far without major sales may be unlikely.
In other West Ham news, an update has emerged on Kyle Walker-Peters after the Irons agreed a permanent transfer deal with Southampton.
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