The reason why Aston Villa will now sell Jhon Duran to West Ham is very exciting for both clubs as reports claim deal will be done.
West Ham and Aston Villa are said to be closing in on a deal for striker Jhon Duran.
The top spokesman inside the club told Hammers News West Ham would not pay Aston Villa’s £35m asking price for Duran.
The Hammers revealed Villa’s frustrated 20-year-old Colombian star Duran is ‘one of many’ forwards technical director Tim Steidten and head coach Julen Lopetegui have been looking at.
But it has become increasingly clear the Aston Villa man is West Ham’s top target.
After West Ham’s refusal to meet Villa’s demands, there was hope a compromise could be reached when transfer reporter Graeme Bailey delivered an update.
Big breakthrough for Villa and Hammers over deal
He said there had been a breakthrough after Duran and Villa came to an agreement to help sell him with West Ham still ‘very interested’.
Bailey claimed Villa were now willing to negotiate a lower fee with significant add-ons.
Then it was reported Napoli made an approach to Villa for Duran only to be told he’s joining the Hammers for £31m.
With West Ham snubbing an approach from an agent to sign Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Youssef En-Nesyri joining Fenerbahce and Callum Wilson picking up another injury, the club’s striker shortlist has been narrowing.
A new report from The Times says West Ham are inching ever closer to signing the Colombia international, who has been frustrated by a lack of game time under Unai Emery at Villa Park.
Now the reason Aston Villa will sell Duran to West Ham has been revealed and it is very exciting for both clubs.
Reason Villa will sell Duran to West Ham is exciting for both clubs
Villa’s owner has been outspoken about how restrictive PSR rules are for their ambitions.
So they – like most Premier League clubs – are having to cut their cloth accordingly.
The Villans have just sold Moussa Diaby to Saudi side Al-Ittihad for around £50m – the same amount they’ve spent on bringing in Amadou Onana from Everton.
Well now it’s been claimed Villa want to sign a player who cost his current club £113m.
Portuguese talent Joao Felix is now very much in Villa’s sights. And the Birmingham Mail believe that could be great news for West Ham.
The report states Atletico Madrid want to sell Felix permanently this summer after successive loan spells at Chelsea in the second half of 2022/23 and then Barcelona last season.
Duran out to facilitate Felix in?
Villa would have to spend a huge sum to land Felix.
And that’s why Villa are open to selling Duran to West Ham as they look to balance the books accordingly having spent around £130m on seven deals already this summer.
Losing Duran would be a big blow for Villa, whose manager and fans rate the former Chicago Fire star highly.
But both have voiced their frustrations at Duran’s impatience with Ollie Watkins the irrefutable first choice striker.
A move for Felix would be a hugely exciting coup for a club like Aston Villa.
Just as finally signing a bonafide top class young striker like Duran would be for West Ham.
The deals will be intrinsically linked so fans of both will be keeping a close eye on developments.
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