Duran to West Ham? Yes of course not until…. Steidten biggest regret set in as Villa star opens up 100% chance the Hammers snubbed to consider 31yr Old injury prone.
West Ham prioritized signing a new striker in the summer, with Aston Villa’s Jhon Duran identified as a top target by technical director Tim Steidten and manager Julen Lopetegui.
Villa fans were unsettled by the thought of Duran possibly joining Premier League rivals West Ham, which only heightened excitement among Hammers fans. The thinking was that if Villa, with Ollie Watkins as their main forward, were so keen to keep their backup striker, Duran must be a significant talent.
However, West Ham’s owners refused to meet Villa’s £45 million asking price, feeling it was too high for such an inexperienced player. Since then, Duran has excelled, making West Ham’s decision look questionable and winning over Villa fans who were initially upset when he teased a potential move by doing the crossed Hammers gesture on social media.
Steidten had negotiated with Villa for about a month, but ultimately chose to allocate funds elsewhere, opting to bring in injury-prone 31-year-old Niclas Fullkrug instead. The fallout has left some blaming Steidten and others blaming the owners, as Duran’s outstanding form has left West Ham fans and ownership wondering what could have been. The 20-year-old has scored eight goals so far this season, including memorable goals against Bayern Munich and Everton, and even a winning goal against West Ham on the opening day.
Recently, Duran spoke out about the failed West Ham transfer and hinted at a possible move in the future. Although Duran signed a new long-term contract with Villa last month, West Ham reportedly still sees him as a potential target. There’s hope they could leverage his frustration over limited starts, thinking they might still secure him next summer.
In a candid interview with Sky Sports, Duran acknowledged that he had been close to moving to West Ham. He also shared his mixed feelings about his role at Villa, expressing both admiration and frustration over his lack of starts under manager Unai Emery.
Reflecting on his current situation, Duran said, “Watkins is in his prime, and you have to respect that. He has the experience, numbers, and understanding, and I’m working hard to reach that level. But for young players, it’s tough because you want to play all the time.”
Duran admitted there were “rumours” of a summer transfer and acknowledged that, as a young player, his mind sometimes wandered. However, he also shared that he felt supported by Emery, as well as by Villa’s president of football operations Monchi and director of football operations Damian Vidagany. Duran’s journey with Villa has shown growth, but his openness hints he may still be considering his long-term options.