Aston Villa require £20m+ fee to sell ‘robust’ gem Jhon Duran as West Ham January transfer interest emerges
We’re delighted to welcome former Aston Villa full-back Alan Hutton as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Villa Park…
It would take £20million-plus offer to prise Jhon Duran away from Aston Villa during the January transfer window and Alan Hutton can’t see him leaving Villa Park this month.
The Hammers approached Villa over a potential loan-to-buy deal for the Colombian striker this month as David Moyes looks to add to his attacking options at the London Stadium, but their bid was quickly rejected by Emery’s side [Jacob Steinberg, 21 January].
Chelsea have also been monitoring the 20-year-old forward, according to Steinberg, but Aston Villa view him as a crucial member of their squad as backup to Ollie Watkins and therefore don’t want to lose him in the January transfer window.
Hutton is delighted that Aston Villa have knocked back the interest from their Premier League rivals and believes it would take a “really good” offer to take Duran away from Villa Park because of his huge potential.
“I wouldn’t sell him, I like him,” Hutton told Villa News.
“When I’ve watched him play I’ve thought he’s done really well. He’s robust, he puts himself about, and he can score a goal. It’s obviously been difficult for him playing behind Ollie Watkins but that’s just how it is at this moment in time.
“I think he offers you a lot so I think to sell him at this moment in time, I don’t think it’s ideal. I have no idea what money we’re talking about because of his potential.
“He’s still very young he’s going to get better, £15million, £20million, exactly what it would be I don’t know, but it would have to be something really good for Villa to let him go because then if Watkins gets injured who do they fall onto?
“Unless they’ve got somebody who’s coming in I can’t see him leaving.”
Duran has managed to score twice in 14 Premier League appearances this season but is yet to start a league game under the management of Emery having made the switch to Aston Villa from Chicago Fire last January.
The Colombian international has been utilised more as an option in the Europa Conference League and the Carabao Cup so far this season and will likely have to settle for a similar role for the remainder of the season given Watkins’ impressive form.
In other Aston Villa news, Hutton is delighted by one new John McGinn update out of Villa Park this month
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