Exclusive major update on Jhon Duran as West Ham send a message to Aston Villa about a deal for the Colombian striker.
A week has passed since West Ham told Hammers News the focus is now on signing a striker.
Aston Villa’s wantaway forward Jhon Duran has been one of the main names in the frame since.
The Hammers signed Max Kilman from Wolves for £40m last weekend.
The top spokesman at West Ham then confirmed Aston Villa’s 20-year-old ace Duran is ‘one of many’ strikers the Hammers are bidding for.
Things have started to look encouraging for West Ham’s hopes of doing a deal with Premier League rivals Aston Villa for the Colombian.
Villa striker Duran on Hammers radar
Duran has impressed when given the chance by Villa boss Unai Emery. But the former Chicago Fire forward has become impatient at his lack of game time.
New Hammers head coach Julen Lopetegui is backing a move for Duran, who has been on technical director Tim Steidten’s shortlist since last year.
Duran has already made it perfectly clear he’s open to leaving Villa amid West Ham’s interest.
This week a source close to Hammers majority owner David Sullivan claimed the Hammers could strike a deal with Villa for Duran next week once the Copa America final is out of the way.
Villa have since brought back striker Cameron Archer from Sheffield United and Emery is re-signing attacker Jaden Philogene too.
With a big money move also in the offing for Amadou Onana, Villa are set to take spending past £100m.
Aston Villa’s ownership have threatened to sue the Premier League over PSR rules restricting their spending.
So Villa will be looking to make sales to balance the books.
Major Duran update as West Ham send message to Villa
It all suggests an agreement might be there to be done between the Hammers and Villans for the striker.
Now Hammers News can exclusively reveal a major Duran update as West Ham send a message to Villa about the deal.
The top spokesman at West Ham has spoken about the situation.
It was put to the key senior London Stadium contact that all the ducks appeared to be lining up in a row for West Ham to seal a deal with Villa for Duran.
But that now that looks highly unlikely unless Villa lower their valuation for a player the club feels is still unproven.
“Aston Villa want £35m for Duran,” the West Ham spokesman told Hammers News.
“We can’t go that high on such a player, who has not done much so far.
“He’s one of many we have been looking at.”
West Ham right to be cautious about overpaying
So there you have it, West Ham are insisting Villa lower the price if they want to offload Duran to them.
Although highly rated by Villa fans and Emery, there are serious question marks over Duran’s attitude and temprament.
It’s easy to see why West Ham are being cautious not to overpay.
After all Duran has only scored 27 goals in 138 career games so far for club and country.
Throw in the concerns about attitude and West Ham’s risk averse approach seems sensible.
Many Hammers fans have been excited at the prospect of signing the feisty forward.
So they will be hoping West Ham’s message is received loud and clear by Villa and that they lower their demands.
Other West Ham striker targets include Armando Broja, Youssef En-Nesyri and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
READ ALSO
West Ham ditch Jota Silva plan with rapid Arsenal star now open to move
Major striker twist as West Ham target snubs rival suitors but there’s a problem
Spurs on red alert after journalist’s claim about West Ham move for Ivan Toney
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox
