Jhon Duran: Aston Villa transfer bombshell as underhand West Ham tactics exposed

Jhon Duran's representatives must have been in communication with West Ham before they submitted a bid for the Aston Villa star, Kris Boyd has said.

Speaking on Sky Sports News (22 January, 10:13am), Boyd slammed West Ham's approach to sign the Colombian, which came via a £57million bid the day before Villa's Champions League clash with Monaco [David Ornstein].

Villa flat-out rejected the Irons' bid, but Boyd anticipated Duran being open to a potential move, given the timing of the approach and the prospect of him not being their first-choice striker going forward.

Boyd said: "I'll be honest with you, I didn't like West Ham [putting the bid] in, the day before a big Champions League game for Aston Villa.

"There's no way West Ham put that bid in without having communication with the people who look after Jhon Duran.

"They wouldn't embarrass themselves by putting that out there, only for Jhon Duran to turn around and say 'I'm not interested'. There's obviously something in it.

"But for me, I wouldn't be selling him now if I'm Aston Villa. If he doesn't become a regular in the next couple of seasons, then they have a decision to make."

Aston Villa hold the cards for Jhon Duran West Ham transfer

West Ham's £57m bid for the in-form Colombian hardly tested the water at Villa Park, with the Lions holding out for north of £85m in order to part ways with Duran – and that looks some way off.

The Hammers had their chance to sign Duran last summer, before he exploded onto the scene as one of the Premier League's hottest properties, but just as is the case now, they wouldn't pay the asking price.

That asking price has since skyrocketed thanks to Duran's 12 goals from 28 appearances so far this term – just seven of which have been starts – and even more crucially, the signing of his new contract.

Agreeing to new terms at Villa Park which tie him down until 2030, Unai Emery and his higher-ups have absolutely no reason to budge on bids they don't deem satisfactory for the 20-year-old frontman.

West Ham can do their best to unsettle Duran in the West Midlands by offering him the keys to a regular starting place, but as long as he's banging in the goals, Villa will be in no mood to entertain them.

In other Aston Villa news, the Lions have made a decision on one of their most promising young players after a new approach.

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