Aston Villa: Jhon Duran agent works overtime to seal last-gasp Villa Park exit amid West Ham United bid
We’re delighted to welcome Sky Sports journalist Dan Bardell as our exclusive Aston Villa columnist as each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at the club…
Dan Bardell believes the transfer talk surrounding an exit for Jhon Duran at Aston Villa is likely being fuelled by the player’s agent.
The Guardian reported on 21 January that West Ham approached Villa over a potential loan-to-buy deal for the Colombian international this month as David Moyes looks to add to his attacking options, but their bid was quickly rejected.
It added that Chelsea have also been monitoring the 20-year-old forward, but the Villans view him as a crucial member of their squad as backup to Ollie Watkins and don’t want to lose him in the January transfer window.
Bardell doesn’t understand why Duran would be looking for a way out of Villa Park as he is working under a “proper manager” in Unai Emery and is getting opportunities for a side that’s competing for a Champions League place this season.
Speaking exclusively to Villa News, Bardell said: “There are rumours about Chelsea. I think Jhon Duran’s agent has been working overtime at the moment, floating stories out there and putting feelers out.
“Jhon Duran seems to be a man in a hurry, he’s at a top Premier League club, second-choice striker, has had plenty of minutes, scored goals in the Premier League. He’s a good player and is under a proper manager, learning his trade.
“Some of the clubs that have been mentioned, Jhon Duran isn’t going to play at those clubs either. At the moment for me, there are question marks over his entourage and his attitude slightly. There’s been rumblings of levels in terms of training and meeting the standards that Emery wants.
“There’s something up because these stories don’t just come out of the blue, journalists don’t generally make things up, so it feels very much like his agent is floating stories to put feelings out to either try and force Villa’s hand or force other teams’ hands.
“I don’t like it and I can’t say I particularly understand it either. If I was Duran, I’d take a look in the mirror and at the people around me at the moment as well.”
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