Jhon Duran may have played final game for Aston Villa as last-gasp transfer update emerges at Chelsea
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…
Jhon Duran may have already played his last game in an Aston Villa shirt amid last-minute January transfer interest in the forward, according to Alan Hutton.
The Colombian forward has been linked with a move away from Villa Park throughout the January window, with reports emerging that Chelsea are interested in signing the 20-year-old for the remainder of the Premier League season [Daily Mail, 25 January].
Villa have already rebuffed a loan enquiry from West Ham United this month, but could reportedly be open to allowing Duran to depart in the final days of the window, if Emery’s side can find a suitable replacement before Thursday (1 February) night’s deadline.
Hutton is a big fan of Duran and has admitted that he would like to see the 20-year-old remain in claret and blue, but does accept his cameo against Everton could be his final Villa appearance and has urged Emery to sign a replacement.
“Possibly, Chelsea are reportedly looking at him and some other clubs are interested,” Hutton told Villa News.
“Again, we’ve spoken about it before, if you’re going to let him go, you have to bring somebody in. You’ve got Ollie Watkins but who comes in if he gets injured or he has to miss a few weeks or anything?
“I like him as a player, I think he gives you something a little bit different, he’s aggressive, he can hold the ball up and he probably just needs a run in the team but that’s difficult with Watkins there.
“But to let him go, you would have to bring somebody in.”
Throughout the season so far, Duran has been little more than a deputy to Watkins, making 14 Premier League appearances from the bench without being named in Emery’s starting XI once in the league in 22 matches this term.
The Colombian has impressed in his limited minutes, scoring twice domestically while his performances in the Europa Conference League have shown promise. But should a reasonable offer arrive at Villa Park in the coming hours, it wouldn’t ‘t be a shock to see the 20-year-old depart.
In other Aston Villa news, Hutton has urged Emery to sell two players before Thursday night’s transfer deadline
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