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West Ham Poised to Sign Villa Striker Jhon Duran with Improved Bid
- West Ham could be set to sign Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran with an improved offer
- Villa have already rejected a cash-plus-player deal for the 20-year-old Colombian striker
- Hammers midfielder Lewis Orford was part of the initial offer that Villa rejected
By Matthew McEvoy
Published: 13:38 EDT, 26 July 2024 | Updated: 13:45 EDT, 26 July 2024
West Ham are stepping up their pursuit of Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran and could meet the Villans’ £40million valuation, after having their initial bid rejected. According to reports, Villa turned down a £32million offer for the Colombian striker, which would have seen 18-year-old Hammers midfielder Lewis Orford move the other way.
Duran, 20, is already attracting interest from other Premier League teams this summer, with Chelsea thought to have expressed interest in the young striker earlier in the transfer window. However, the Blues were not prepared to pay Villa’s £40million asking price, which the Brum club have remained steadfast in asking for.
West Ham could sign striker Jhon Duran this summer, if they meet Villa’s £40million price tag
West Ham’s new head coach, Julen Lopetegui, wants to add to his forward line ahead of the new season, and it’s becoming increasingly likely that Duran could swap the claret and blue of Villa for that of the East London club, as he is thought to be keen on moving to another Premier League club where he can make a mark.
West Ham’s new head coach, Julen, Lopetegui, wants to add to his forward line this summer
Duran joined Villa from MLS side Chicago Fire in January 2023, in a deal worth around £18million. He’s scored five goals in that time for the Villains, but has largely played second fiddle to England striker Ollie Watkins, starting just three times in 23 league appearances.
In January, it was revealed that head coach Unai Emery and Duran had sometimes not seen eye to eye, with the 20-year-old thought to be frustrated with decisions to substitute him at various points during Villa’s European season.
Hammers youngster Lewis Orford was part of the West Ham offer in their bid to land Duran
Lewis Orford, meanwhile, is an England youth international and has made six EFL Trophy appearances for the club’s academy side. The 18-year-old was also part of the Hammers’ winning FA Youth Cup roster in 2023.
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West Ham are ‘considering making an improved offer for Aston Villa’s Jhon Duran’ after seeing an initial £32million bid for the striker rejected