Part of being a good negotiator is knowing when to walk away from a deal, and I believe West Ham may have reached that point.
Aston Villa have rejected the Irons’ latest transfer offer of Ā£32 million, Lewis Orford, and a sell-on clause for striker Jhon Duran. This was revealed by Fabrizio Romano earlier today following another protracted round of negotiations.
The Hammersā negotiating team is entitled to offer whatever they deem necessary to recruit a player, and Villa is quite within their rights to reject that offer.
However, what concerns me most are Romano’s closing comments, which indicated that talks between West Ham and the Midlands club are set to continue.
Personally, I believe the offer to be a very good oneātoo good, in fact. I previously outlined my reasons for not wanting Lewis Orford included in the transfer deal, but putting my personal opinions aside, I do believe he is a significant makeweight.
Ā£32 million and the England Under-18 captain, who is also on the cusp of a first-team breakthrough, is an awful lot of money for any player. Considering Jhon Duran does not have a proven track record and, despite his obvious potential, is still untested in the top flight, this offer seems reasonable.
West Ham are rumoured to have rejected the chance to sign Jonathan David and Ivan Toney for financial reasons, while Duran was considered the cheaper option… not anymore he ain’t.
Unless there is something seriously wrong with my mathematics, I would suggest that a sell-on clause and Lewis Orford would be worth in excess of Ā£15 million. Therefore, I believe we are looking at a transfer fee of around Ā£50 million for the Aston Villa striker, which is a fee I can’t see any other club paying.
West Ham need to call Villaās bluff on this deal, be prepared to walk away, and start putting in serious offers for other strikers. And while we’re at it, find the money to give Lewis Orford the contract we should have given Ben Johnson.
Would rather get the back 4 sorted .to be honest ,
Pwr have desperately needed a striker for 3 seasons…been playing Antonio on his own and even he isn’t a proper striker..a prem team should have 2 proven strikers at very lest ..we havenone and would rather use that pathetic false 9 saying..
..that’s saying has been used as an excuse…moyes would of rather played players out of position…WE NEED A STRIKER…end off …
Agree 100%. Ransom job by Villa who don’t need to sell. He’s simply not worth it at this stage.
15 million for Orford lol
Take Orford off the table and offer them an extra five million. Final offer. If they turn it down walk away. Then wait till Orford is the new Declan Rice and then tell Villa they can have him for one hundred million smackaroonies.
Yes someone with a proven track record, and without āan attitudeā problem, might be a very good decision. On the other hand, with 20 years and the potential (not the certainty) of being another Kudus in terms of success and increase in valuation, it could still be good business, in what he contributes to the game and money wise. It is a gamble.
No worries, see ya other clubs are interested in him so it is what it is. We know he’s going to score loads once settled in somewhere and TBH WH and Duran would be a great combination due to the football you play, however your new manager might change the style so I guess it’s time you’re owners walked away.
I donāt think anyone actually knows how weāll play yet under Lopetegui.
Iām not really bothered whether we sign Duran or not to be honest. Obviously has talent but yet to prove himself over a season actually starting games and having the pressure and expectations of being first choice striker. Jury is out.
His attitude also is cause for concern.
I also think Ā£40m is way overpriced. Would prefer someone with a proven track record.
Agree with the sentiment. The club have now wasted too much time trying to get this deal over the line. Clear it isn’t going to happen. It’s less than 3 weeks to the first game of the new season and STILL no new striker in place. Walk away!
Would much rather go and have a crack at Wahi from Lens. He would be great for us and probably cost 5-10mill less than Duran.
Canāt believe we are offering so much much cash for potential. Not only folding money but also our home grown potential. Who is to say Dhuranās potential will actually prove to be greater than Orfordās? Last time we signed a potentially volatile diamond in the rough we saw some sparkle but mainly rough. His name was Ravel Morrison. Potential works both waysā¦potential gem or potential dud. My money is on Dhud!
I don’t like the attitude of Duran which is why nobody else wants him.
A pint of Stella at Ā£3 is a bargain,,at Ā£10 it isn’t.
Move on
Over the years we’ve had some good prospects but not including the Ferdinand,Cole, Lampard etc. group how many have actually made it in the Prem. Reece Oxford was going to be the best thing since sliced bread, what happened to him? Diangana a West Brom flop. My point is the assumption that because they’ve progressed from the Youth Squad makes them fantastic prospects is ridiculous, more fall by the wayside than make it. Let’s leave the professionals like Tim make the decisions they’re best placed to do it!
I’m gutted if there’s truth to this.
Forget the days where we let the likes of Ferdinand, Carrick and Cole go to “bigger” clubs and fast forward to Mubama and Johnson.
If we give up our best prospects from our excellent academy that’s bad enough, but as a little token sweetener to get a deal over the line for a problem child? Bonkers!
Let’s hope someone has their arm around young Orford and is letting him in on the inside track … imagine if he’s just left to getting info from the rumour mill?
I have complete faith in Steiden and co to get the best deal available to us… imagine if we are just using Duran as a stalking horse and we sneak up on a patently better option. We might be about to pull that off with Mizraoui after all… it was all Win Bissaka and Walker Peters until it suddenly wasn’t
You can see whatās happening here. Chelsea are sitting back waiting for that price to drop or for Aston Villaās desire to hold the player eases. At the eleventh hour they will swoop, as they always do. We will have wasted time and energy and destroyed the relationship with a budding young player who seeās how West Ham were prepared to āhorse tradeā him.
Letās hope Antonio remains fit for yet another campaign.
I just hope Chelsea come back in for him and pay villa’s demands then we get have done with it and move on to other targets (if any š¬)
With all due respects Villa have a lot of games next season with CL and if Duran is that good why donāt they keep him. There will be plenty of opportunities for game time and they would need a big squad. When he comes to us they would go out and buy a quality player with This deal is too one sided We have nothing to lose walking away.
Totally agree
Hi
It’s not about villa wanting to keep him, Emery was training him to eventually replace Watkins but he wants to go no good keeping him off he doesn’t want to be there, hence being sold, and his preference is London. Good luck for the season Hammers, …UTV
Villa fan here. This guy is a serious talent. 5 goals from 3 starts and wants to move because Watkins is in the way. His ego is huge, and that is why Villa will let him go. No other reason. We don’t need your academy player, although we did make an offer. Ā£40m is a fair price. I would love him to stay at Villa. I just hope he doesn’t go until after the opening game. He’s nailed on for a brace against us.
You have been interested in Oxford before thats why he is in the deal
Hi,
I’m hoping to put your mind at ease a little. To start off I do completely understand where you are coming from. I hate it when Villa lose special academy players. We lost Chukwuemeka to Chelsea and all because Gerrard wouldn’t play him and bought Coutinho instead. Orford looks great and 35m + him does come to about 50m. You also have the fact that Duran is a flipping liability. He’s an arrogant, self absorbed playboy who puts himself above the team.
HOWEVER – And I’m saying this as a season ticket holder at VP – Boy can the boy shoot, I mean really, he has unlimited potential. I’m not exaggerating. I don’t want him in the team because of his attitude and yet it pains me to watch him leave, he’s just that good. He could be as prolific as any of them, Haaland, Lewandowski, Drogba etc. I’ve never seen someone strike a ball that cleanly, that accurately and that consistently in all my life. He’s also got the physique. We’re playing hard ball for a reason.
If you get him, don’t despair. He’s a tool. But there is a difference between a kid who could end up being a great striker, and a kid who get end up being the best striker in the world. And he can, he’s a twat, but he could literally become the best striker in the world.
Good luck with your season.
UTV
I think Villa sense we are being too needy for his signature. The offer is an excellent deal. Ā£32m +Orford (if true). They have West Ham over a barrel because Steidten has shown his hand, due to Lopetigui pushing hard for Dhuran. I think enough is enough and we should just walk away and consider other options. Despite Lopetigui insisting on this deal I think the head coach needs a reality check that we can’t just throw money into buying players. Dhuran obviously is held in high regard to Villa and they must, therefore, keep him.
Cheers mate nice post
What Villa are asking is steep no doubt and we are right to haggle.
I don’t rate U21 squad prospects highly as so few of them make premier league starter standard. We’ve moved on far more established prospects than Orford who disappeared into the lower leagues. I very much do not wear rose tinted specs.
Sell on clauses are nearly always only on any profit made if a player is sold on, they may be time limited and they vary in percentage. Unless the specific details are known it could mean anything.
Duran clearly has a value which is more than the 18M including add ons that Villa paid for him. He has performed in the premier league in the chances that he’s had behind Watkins, like who displaces Watkins, so he is now premier league experienced whereas he wasn’t when Villa bought him = Less risk.
He’s also on a four year contract and every transfer involves buying out the contract. The Ā£40M asked is steep though and we are right to haggle.
The offer we have made puts Duran in the same class as Haller and Scamacca but they were regarded as established goalscorers and they couldn’t cut it.So why do we think that Duran can do what they couldn’t,just based on potential.Time to look elsewhere.
With amount of media talk about this guy Villa will now think desperation stage has been reach.
It’s time to close the books and walk
Seems to have lost track of anyone else available now just a continual conversation about him
Admittedly a number of other strikers are now like ships in the night_Gone.
One who might be a possibility is Karim Adeyemi, can play across front line
Hijack him from, guess who, Villa.
Unfortunately it will have to be more than Ā£20m max that why want to spend.
Sammie Szmodics sign him he can be another Bowen from the championship a diamond in the rough and far and away cheaper than Duran……stop being blinkered regarding this player.
Agree 100% with this article. Walk away now. How about playing Bowen through the middle, as he did really well last season when asked to do so by Moyes.
Villa f*ckef us once already with a dud striker in the name of Ings. Walk away from this one please it really isnt worth it 20 mil at most and no player in payment.
No one forced us to buy Ings. If anyone eff’d us it was the person/s who sanctioned the deal at West Ham. I agree with you Gonzo, walk away and Force Villa to show their hand.
Walk away –move on
You fuĀ£*ed yourselves, don’t blame the Villa for your clubs decisions.
So you think dhuran is worth 50 million, so tell me why he can’t get past Watkins why he can’t get in your team as Watkins is worth 50 million and is far more the proven article. I think your seriously deluded
There are other strikers out there ! Too much in my opinion and losing a great prospect too š¤·š»āāļø nah ā¦ there aināt no queue forming to pay villa 40 mill for an untested striker !! Jog em on and maybe snap the guy up on last day for a more realistic fee ā¦ money saved can be used to give young Lewis an improved contract
Walk away time. Give 2 fingers, or just the middle one will do, to Villa.
Doyle your a mid table team pmsl
So you wouldnāt middle finger to a team above Villa? Strange, we loves it.
I’d rather take my chances with Earthy as to me that amount of cash plus Orford would not be good business, if the reporting is truly factual of course.