Quite clearly the ongoing Euro 24 and Copa America competitions have been holding centre stage: Apart from the interest generated by England’s national team making the final, every player involved in either of the continents’ competitions has prioritised his national teams performance. Thoughts of transfers, new clubs, agent discussions, have been either put on hold or at least pushed into the background.
But with the end of the Euros this weekend and the Copa America on Monday, it’s pretty clear that the transfer market will go from rumour mill phase into ‘ready willing and able’ top gear next week.
Our interest in Jhon Duran has been exciting Hammers fans since news first broke of the £30 million-plus negotiations with Aston Villa. The Colombian is involved with the national team and must be focussed on their final against Argentina on Monday ( guess who we will be supporting in that one!) Duran has so far made just one appearance as a substitute in one of the side’s group games. Kind of them not to wear him out.
Prime striker target
Much has been written by me and others about the whole raft of names being floated as possible target man recruits in this window. It does seem, however, as though a ‘prime target’ has evolved and Hammers’ fans patience could soon be rewarded.
C and H associate editor Sean Whetstone confirmed:’Columbian striker Jhon Duran is focussed on the Copa America final on Monday and that is likely to put any move to West Ham on hold until next week’. And as far as the focus on this player – he added: ‘“Duran is not the only striker target with West Ham having a number of other options if agreement cannot be reached with Aston Villa.”.
So, sounds like ‘plan A’ should swing into action next week. It would be ironic, though, if Aston Villa used the cash paid for Duran to fund their own hijacking of Hammers’ planned move for Jean-Clair Todibo from Nice as reported by Simon this morning.
I have a hunch there’ll be a second striker through the doors as a loan or backup, such has been the frequency of rumours of players available on a ‘free’ transfer coming to East London.
We should at 2 strikers at the very least anyway..most clubs have 3 ..we have scraped by with Antonio for 3 seasons and if we’re honest, he’s not a proper striker either …moyes would of rather played players out of position. With the pathetic false 9 xxxxxcxc being the excuse ..( most annoying saying ever ..) ( nearly as annoying when Liverpoolplayers and klopp.called Henderson HENDO .🤣)..look what he did with scamacca and haller …hopefully the new lot will realise that you need two decent strikers in the prem if you want to try and win something…
Jhon Duran is 20 so still learning Villa like him but think he has an attitude issue which could be resolved with more minutes.
This one looks to be a lot more than a rumour, deal likely to be done next week.
I agree……he’ll be photographed in the shirt by next weekend.
I’m guessing ‘yes’, too!
screw this way over priced kid
juve just set the price for soule for 25m! forget spending 35m on a developing striker, bring in soule, lets play with three left footed attacking midfielders across the attacking third with antonio up front
spend 10m on a big striker that’s great with his back to goal
kudus, bowen, soule – goals and opportunities will not be in short supply, need a striker and midfield to feed them
Who is this top-6 quality back to goal striker that we can buy for 10m?
If both Colombian and Villa are not playing Jhon Duran (preferring other strikers) then he sounds a risky purchase. Are we looking for an OK striker or an outstanding striker??
Trust Tim and Julen on this one. They both will know a lot more than you and I.