West Ham United wait on Aston Villa to finalise signing before Jhon Duran deal goes ahead
West Ham United may have to wait on Aston Villa to finalise the signing of Joao Felix before the Jhon Duran deal can go ahead, according to AS.
The Colombian website reported on Thursday (July 25) that Villa are interested in bringing Felix to Birmingham but will need to get rid of Duran in order to sign him, with the Hammers closely monitoring the situation.
The money raised from the sale of Duran – whether to West Ham or someone else – will be crucial to completing the deal for the ex-Chelsea flop who now plays for Atletico Madrid.
The Hammers have been strongly linked with Duran this summer who struggled to make a big impact at Villa Park last season.
West Ham desperate to Sign Duran
West Ham seem to be pulling out all the stops to land Duran, but Aston Villa isn’t budging. Their latest offer of £32m plus 18-year-old midfielder Lewis Orford was rejected [Daily Mail, July 25], meaning that striking the deal for the 20-year-old striker might be more difficult than previously thought.
Duran had a decent season last year, scoring five goals in the Premier League despite mostly coming off the bench. His international experience with Colombia, including participation in the Copa America, adds to his appeal.
However, he’s had limited action on the big stage and sometimes clashed with Villa’s head coach Unai Emery, which might be a factor in his potential move.
West Ham’s inclusion of Orford in the deal shows that the Hammers are pulling out all the stops to sign the 20-year-old. The young midfielder, who is a part of the Hammers’ FA Youth Cup-winning squad, has a contract expiring next June with no renewal in sight.
They’re keen to offload him in hopes of securing Duran, who Villa values at around £40million. Whether West Ham up their bid or looks elsewhere, it’s clear they’re serious about boosting their attacking options.
In other West Ham news, the Hammers can relax over the Lucas Paqueta saga after seeing a proposal submitted for a replacement signing.
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