West Ham United want mandatory Jhon Duran loan-to-buy as Michail Antonio, Danny Ings could go
West Ham still want Jhon Duran before the close of the window and ready to take him on a loan-to-buy deal with mandatory clauses attached, according to HITC.
The outlet reported via their website on 14 August that the Hammers have not given up on bringing the Colombian in from Aston Villa despite signing Borussia Dortmund’s Niclas Fullkrug.
Duran remains a “key” target and wants to leave Villa Park, while his club also want to move him on, so a loan deal with an obligation to buy if certain criteria are met could be on the cards.
West Ham are said to be willing to offload both of their current back-up strikers, Danny Ings and Michail Antonio, in order to make another signing at the position.
West Ham still want key Aston Villa striker target
Fullkrug’s arrival was a crucial one for Tim Steidten as Julen Lopetegui could not be sent into the new season with the same options as David Moyes was left with last term.
But the club are said to be so “desperate” to get rid of Ings’ £130,000-a-week wages they will let him go for free [talkSPORT, 13 August] after three Premier League goals in 18 months.
Antonio has been a hugely-important fixture at the club for close to a decade but is now 34 and slowing down in front of goal.
With Fullkrug 31 there is certainly logic in adding a younger option to the group up front, but if a deal wasn’t possible for Duran when he was the top target earlier this summer it remains to be seen if it is any easier closer to the deadline.
Tammy Abraham appears to be emerging as a serious alternative from Roma after his potential move to AC Milan failed to materialise.
The Irons are reportedly ready to send a £25million offer to the Italian’s which is enough for them to accept [Il Romanista, 14 August], and the former Chelsea striker has a better record in the Premier League.
An initial loan for Duran might even open up the possibility that both the strikers could come in if various factors fell into place.
Steidten is in talks to sell Nayef Aguerd [TBR Football, 13 August] which could potentially help fund a permanent deal for Abraham, and if Ings and Antonio were both moved on there should be space on the wage bill to add Duran too, with payment deferred to next year.
A similar situation has played out in defence with the deals for Max Kilman and Jean-Clair Todibo, but Villa would have to play ball and might see it as not in their best interests.
Steidten has pulled off an impressive window so far but a five-man turnaround at striker might be too much to expect.
In other West Ham news, new talks have emerged as the Irons look to offload a £125,000-a-week senior player.
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