BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - MAY 28: A detailed view of the corner flag inside the stadium prior to the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Brighton & Hove Albion at Villa Park on May 28, 2023 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)
West Ham may have 2nd chance to sign £28m Aston Villa attacker with Unai Emery ready to sell
West Ham United could have another pop at signing an Aston Villa attacker, with Unai Emery reportedly ready to sell him this winter.
Unai Emery and David Moyes are both keen to strengthen their ranks at Aston Villa and West Ham respectively in the January transfer window.
The Hammers desperately need a top-class attacker, with Michail Antonio out injured until the start of next month and Mohammed Kudus away at AFCON with Ghana for the next four or five weeks.
One player who could be up for grabs this month is a former target for Moyes – Jhon Duran, with Emery apparently ready to sell the 20-year-old striker in the January window (Daily Mail).
The Colombian hitman joined Villa in January 2023 for around £18 million (BBC), but not before West Ham tried to bring him to the London Stadium.
Now Moyes could have a second bite of the cherry…
Unai Emery ready to sell Aston Villa star
West Ham should swoop in for Duran after reports claimed Emery is ready to cash in on him.
The 20-year-old Colombia international is a real talent and seemingly has everything needed to succeed on the world’s biggest stage. He is a centre-forward by trade but can also operate as a left winger.
Duran bagged eight goals and six assists in 30 games for Chicago Fire during his final season with them (Transfermarkt).
He’s only racked up four goals and one assist in 33 games for Villa, but he’s only played 687 minutes during those games, and has never been given a run of starts (Transfermarkt).
Don’t let that poor record fool you, Duran has genuinely top-class ability, and he’s perfectly suited to Moyes’s system.
The South American possesses blistering pace and has really impressive strength for someone so young.
He is obviously still incredibly raw and rough around the edges. It’s clear to see in some players that they have what it takes though. And the Colombian undoubtedly has something special about him.
I think Duran would be a superb addition for West Ham in the January window, and with Unai Emery apparently prepared to sell the Aston Villa star, Moyes should make his move.
