Jhon Duran is set to leave Aston Villa, according to The Athletic journalist David Ornstein.
The Colombian striker is expected to undergo a medical in London tomorrow before completing a €77m move to Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League.
His departure brings an end to a transfer saga that saw West Ham repeatedly bid for the striker, including a £45m offer plus £12m in add-ons earlier this month—rejected by Villa.
The forward came so close to joining the Irons in the summer that he took to social media making the crossed hammers sign. With West Ham & Villa only three million pounds apart in valuation, a deal was expected by Duran and his representatives only for The Hammers to pull the plug on the negotiations.
Duran has struggled to displace Ollie Watkins as Villa’s first-choice striker this season and was understood to have a strained relationship with some at the club.
The move could now increase West Ham’s chances of signing Evan Ferguson, with Al Nassr no longer pursuing Victor Boniface. The Leverkusen striker was on the Saudi club’s shortlist, but Xabi Alonso’s side are now reportedly eyeing Brighton’s Ferguson if he becomes available.
Reports yesterday from Florian Plettenberg that Al Nassr were offering in the region of €60 million (£50.3 million) for Victor Boniface plus €15 million a year net in wages (£12.6 million) . That is more than double our highest earners.
Unfortunately the astronomical wages offered by the Saudi clubs have changed everything and we have to be realistic to avoid smashing the clubs wage structure and PSR. Much as I disagree with how we went about bidding again for Duran realistically clubs like ours will find it increasingly difficult to attract top players who can earn that sort of money.
I mean he’s an exciting player to watch but if he’s going to Saudi at his age then he could have potentially been another Arnautovic.
If he starts with any “I want to compete for trophies” malarkey instead of just being honest and saying “I want to be really, really rich.” then it confirms that much.
Absolutely gutted. Fuck you Sullivan for holding us back on so many occasions. The man’s decisopn making this year is what has stopped us from progressing forward.
A complicated situation with Duran and Watkins Emery says they can’t play together so I suppose he had to go, anyway 77m euros plus 10m in add ons is a good deal and he won’t be playing for our opposition. Sad to see him go.
Let’s hope that we spend some of the money to do something positive with our terrible defence, and maybe another striker who knows.
Hope I don’t have to see that picture of the clown with his tongue hanging out one more time. Let him go to Saudi and dissspear into obscurity though I’ve a feeling it won’t be long before he’s back in Europe.
I bet we make one last late bid for him for 58 million.