Ahead of Aston Villa’s Premier League kick off on Saturday night, the future of one player adds another intriguing subplot to that evening fixture with West Ham United.
Despite landing Germany’s first-choice number nine Niclas Fullkrug in a £27 million deal from Borussia Dortmund, Julen Lopetegui’s side remain in the market for a younger, more long-term addition to their striker ranks.
HITC understands that Aston Villa’s own Jhon Duran remains in contention for a switch to the London Stadium.
West Ham made a bid in the region of £35 million a few weeks ago. Aston Villa are refusing to budge on their £40 million valuation. But, presuming both parties are willing, surely there is a compromise that can be reached with only the two clubs £5 million apart.
Villa boss Unai Emery, meanwhile, has indicated that former Chelsea target Duran could be involved against his potential future employers when West Ham host the Midland giants in an all claret-and-blue clash.
West Ham like Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran
“He is training with us and training well. He came back last week with good spirits, and my idea is I am going to use him,” Emery tells the Birmingham Mail. “I believe in his potential. He helped us last year in some moments being a very important player.
“The most important thing is he is ready and available and he is with us, with our shirt.
“He is young and he has a big potential to exploit. To be here fighting with (Ollie) Watkins for one position and seeing how successful Watkins’ career is here, it’s not easy.
“He was telling us he was thinking his best option was to leave so he could play more and more for another club and fulfil his potential. I can understand it.
“We were always talking to him to help and support him. We wanted to take the best decision for everybody – for him, for the club and for us.
“Until then, every decision we make about him will be me trying to help him and support him. I want to use him and use his potential with us. Hopefully we will get it.”
A former MLS starlet, Duran played 23 Premier League games in 2023/24. Only three of those, however, were starts.
Villa planning for Diego Carlos departure as Fulham move
Aston Villa also have a decision to make regarding the future of Diego Carlos. They are open to selling the £26 million Brazil international, HITC understands, though Fulham have seen an opening bid rejected.
Villa may have to let Carlos go if they are to bring in Lutsharel Geertruida from Feyenoord.
Emery, however, insists that Carlos is also still part of his plans, even if Aston Villa are putting plans in place for his potential departure.
“We have been speaking a lot with him about his commitment over the whole season. About being focussed, about his development, respect, everything. He is training well. He is in the squad for tomorrow,” Emery adds, via the Birmingham Mail.
“He is going to do his best in an Aston Villa shirt and defend us. Diego Carlos is in the squad travelling to West Ham and it’s not changing the circumstances we have now. He’s going to be here.
“(But) we plan in case he is leaving. We are planning it.”
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
