Newcastle United have outbid West Ham in a last-gasp hijack for Aston Villa star Jhon Duran it has been claimed.
After weeks of talks with Aston Villa over Jhon Duran, West Ham could be left empty-handed after a late move by Newcastle.
Reports had suggested West Ham are closing in on a deal for Aston Villa’s wantaway striker.
West Ham’s top spokesman close to the ownership has previously told Hammers News the club are refusing to meet Aston Villa’s £35m valuation.
That reluctance has now left the door open for Premier League rivals Newcastle to swoop it seems.
Hammers leave door open for Magpies to swoop?
The 20-year-old has grown impatient at Villa as a result of a lack of game time behind Ollie Watkins.
Duran has spoken out this week saying he hopes ‘something concrete will happen’ after being asked about a move to West Ham.
The Hammers saw another bid rejected yesterday, though, and now Newcastle are looking to seize the opportunity.
West Ham offered Aston Villa £30m plus talented young midfielder Lewis Orford for Duran.
It has angered many Hammers fans that the club would even entertain letting Orford, a lifelong West Ham supporter himself, leave for a rival just to avoid paying the extra £5m to Villa.
And their mood won’t be improved after it was claimed Newcastle have outbid West Ham in a last-gasp hijack for Villa star Duran.
Newcastle ‘outbid’ West Ham for Villa star Duran
Nick Killington, who runs the popular West Ham YouTube channel Claret and Booze, has contacts at West Ham.
And he says Newcastle have jumped in and offered Aston Villa £36m for Duran.
Killington also states ‘it’s now expected he will move to Newcastle’ despite an unknown Saudi club offering £40m.
But Birmingham World is claiming the opposite is true.
Citing reports from Colombia, it states Newcastle did want Duran but have been ‘hit by a blow’ with the news West Ham are close to signing him from Villa.
Duran would face same game time issue at Newcastle
So it’s difficult to know what to believe for West Ham and Newcastle fans right now.
The biggest factor, though, will surely be Duran’s situation.
The reason he wants to leave Villa for West Ham is because he is tired of a lack of game time behind Watkins.
But that is not going to improve if he signs for Newcastle given the Magpies have the brilliant Alexander Isak as their starting striker.
Worse still Newcastle – like West Ham – don’t even have European games for Isak and Duran to share the load.
At the London Stadium Duran would be the guaranteed starting forward with ageing duo Michail Antonio and Danny Ings as back-up.
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