Colombian striker Jhon Duran has agreed terms with West Ham but are Aston Villa playing a cunning game to delay the move?
West Ham’s move for wantaway Aston Villa forward Jhon Duran took a new twist overnight.
The firebrand Colombian has already angered Villa fans and Unai Emery with his impatience since signing from Chicago Fire in January 2023.
The Hammers target is stuck behind Ollie Watkins at Aston Villa.
And his desire to be the number one striker elsewhere has seen the 20-year-old become West Ham’s prime target as part of Julen Lopetegui and Tim Steidten’s rebuild.
New twist to West Ham’s move for Villa star
The striker further infuriated Aston Villa last night by dropping the biggest hint yet that he wants to join West Ham.
Duran did the crossed Hammers on an Instagram video.
That came amid claims West Ham were going to reluctantly meet Villa’s asking price after weeks of stalemate in that regard.
Now there has been a major development but Aston Villa could drag this out for even longer for one very specific reason.
Duran has agreed terms with West Ham according to a new report but are Aston Villa could be playing a cunning game.
Duran agrees terms with West Ham
New information has emerged claiming Duran has agreed to sign for West Ham on £90,000 per week.
“Duran is reported to have agreed to a £90,000-a-week deal with West Ham and all three parties expect the deal to get done without a hiccup,” Claret and Hugh report.
The deal is now expected to be completed soon and, the report claims, Duran could fly to America to join up with his new teammates pending a successful medical.
But West Ham fans have been here before, on several occasions, and won’t be getting their hopes up just yet.
There have been too many false dawns over the years for Hammers supporters. Indeed even in this window.
West Ham have told Hammers News the deal is proving tough to do with Aston Villa.
Aston Villa may be playing a cunning game
And there may be a very good reason for that.
West Ham welcome Emery’s side to the London Stadium on the opening day of the new Premier League season.
It may only be one game in a 38-game season. But Villa will not want to be left with egg on their faces by selling Duran to West Ham only for him to instantly come back to haunt them.
The summer transfer window runs for another two weeks after that game.
So it would not surprise West Ham if Villa make the move as protracted as possible until after that season opener.
West Ham fans will be hoping the club can use some brinkmanship with Villa to get them to agree to a deal before then of course.
There are already some intriguing subplots developing for that first game of the campaign.
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