With every passing week, West Ham’s decision not to meet Aston Villa’s asking price for Jhon Duran looks increasingly regrettable.
The Hammers spent much of the season pursuing the Colombian forward, reportedly bidding at least three times for him, with the final transfer offer exceeding £35 million. However, none of these offers met Villa’s valuation of £40 million for their talented striker.
It was widely known that the 20-year-old was available for transfer, and at the time, neither the player nor the Midlands club were confident he would play regular first-team football this season. Duran seemed destined to play understudy to England striker Ollie Watkins and was seeking pastures new.
At one point during negotiations, Duran was so confident of a move to West Ham that he made the crossed-hammers sign on his Instagram account. But as they say, the rest is history. West Ham opted against paying the full asking price, withdrew from negotiations, and signed Niclas Füllkrug instead.
West Ham’s loss has certainly been Aston Villa’s gain. Duran has transformed into one of the Premier League’s most feared strikers. His winning goal against Everton yesterday—a stunning strike—will be replayed for years and is likely to win Goal of the Month, if not the season.
It’s hard to imagine how West Ham missed out on such an exceptional talent. Duran wanted to come to East London, his club was ready to sell, and now, the price is beginning to look like a bargain.
Out of all the players we sign they always think paying top dollar for a good striker is a negative move, one day we may realise they win games!!!!!
If you go back and read the reports in July, there were many quotes from Villa forums and sites saying he was a difficult character and that they would be happy to see the back of him. Some WHU supporters used those comments as reasons to move on. It’s always easy to judge things like this in hindsight, but in real time it was not viewed as a “mistake” to not sign him.
Villa had no intention of selling Duran but were quite happy to keep all his suitors going round and round in negotiations, while clubs other options slowly dried up. There was no mistake, no ‘one that got away’, they just weren’t going to sell him unless it was silly money well north of $40 million.
He’ll leave Villa but it will be to a ‘big club’ for big money.
A huge mistake not signing Duran! £5M in todays football is nothing…. we will regret this for sure! Sadly, I can’t see Fulkrug doing much. Another striker failure in a long list of failures – all for the sake of £5M!!! It’s hard enough to sign a good striker these days – but Duran actually wanted to come! Banging them in for fun and his price going up with every goal. We won’t be able to afford him in January and if he keeps playing and scoring regularly for Villa he won’t want to leave…… Big mistake!!!
Why don’t we give the German INTERNATIONAL a chance in a settled team before we pass judgement?
Christ 4 games in and Fullkrug is a flop and Duran a world beater. Come on everyone grasp some reality please!
Spot on, it can’t all be instant. Give it a chance before we judge everything.
Guarantee Dhuran will do something stupid and everyone will say dodged a bullet there!