Aston Villa in talks over the sale of ‘special’ forward, AC Milan and Atletico Madrid keen

Follow us on Google Discover

Exclusive from Graeme Bailey

HITC can confirm that Aston Villa are in talks with a number of clubs over the sale of one high potential forward.

It has been a busy summer so far for Unai Emery’s Aston Villa with the club already pulling off the signing of Chelsea left-back Ian Maatsen, who spent last season on loan at Borussia Dortmund.

However, the Villians have lost one key midfielder in Douglas Luiz, who has joined Juventus whilst the Midlands club received Enzo Barrenchea and Samuel Iling-Junior as part of the deal.

It is now our understanding that another player could be on his way out of Villa Park this summer.

Villa prepared to listen to offers for promising forward

Sources have told HITC that Villa are prepared to listen to offers for 20-year-old forward Jhon Duran, who Emery once hailed as being ‘special’.

HITC has been told that Emery has informed the Colombian forward that Duran is not in his long-term plans for the club and the player is now understood to be looking at his options.

Chelsea are understood to have held talks over a deal for Duran but an agreement could not be reached and now other sides are understood to have entered the race for the forward.

HITC can confirm that West Ham United are one of the sides who have held talks with the 20-year-old but the Hammers are not alone in their interest in the Colombian.

Interest from Europe as Duran sets out his demands

HITC understands that there is interest from AC Milan, AS Roma and Napoli and these Italian sides have held talks with Duran, as have Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid.

As well as this, sources have told HITC that there is also interest from Turkey in the forward who has made his demands clear for his next club.

Despite the interest from across Europe, Duran is understood to be carefully considering his options as he prepares for his next move.

He is currently not happy with being a ‘bit-part’ player at Villa and wherever he moves next he wants guarantees around the amount of game time he is going to get at his new club.