West Ham United have submitted an offer worth £57million ($70m) to sign Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran.
The east London club are long-term admirers of Duran but their proposal, which includes potential bonuses, is expected to be rejected.
Villa have no intention of selling the 21-year-old Colombia international in this transfer window and recently extended his contract until 2030, amid significant interest from numerous suitors.
The Athletic reported in July 2024 that West Ham had submitted a £30m ($38.6m) bid plus teenage midfielder Lewis Orford to sign Duran, but this was rejected by Villa.
Duran has scored 12 goals across all competitions for Villa this season — including in the opening-weekend win over West Ham — but has started only seven matches for Unai Emery’s side.
He moved to Villa Park from MLS side Chicago Fire in January 2023 but just seven of his 54 Premier League appearances have come as a starter.
England international Ollie Watkins has often been the preferred central striker for Emery, starting 24 matches this term.
West Ham have suffered setbacks in attacking positions in recent weeks with captain Jarrod Bowen out with a fractured foot and Niklas Fullkrug, the summer arrival from Borussia Dortmund, sidelined with a hamstring injury.
Michail Antonio is recovering from injuries suffered in a car crash in December and won’t return for the rest of the season.
The next Premier League game for each side is against each other with West Ham travelling to Villa Park on Sunday.
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Understanding Aston Villa’s Jhon Duran – ‘Nothing he was given was free’
(James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images)
