West Ham bid takes a blow

West Ham United‘s bid to bolster their attacking options reportedly took a blow as Aston Villa declined their loan proposal for Colombian forward Jhon Duran. David Moyes‘ men desperately need attacking reinforcements before the January transfer window slams shut, but their pursuit of Duran has hit a roadblock.

The Hammers have long been linked with Stuttgart’s Serhou Guirassy, but the saga surrounding this potential transfer seems to have reached a frustrating standstill. With that seemingly stalled, Moyes and his team were forced to explore alternative avenues, leading them to Duran.

Whispers in the wind suggested Villa boss Unai Emery might be open to letting go of the young Colombian forward, making Duran an attractive option for West Ham. However, Villa quickly quashed any hopes of a quick loan deal, sending the Hammers back to the drawing board.

While Villa shut down the loan offer, their overall plans for Duran remain unclear. Whether they’re willing to entertain a permanent sale this month or intend to keep the 20-year-old at Villa Park is still uncertain.

West Ham are remaining quiet on the names they are pursuing but there seems to be some widespread substance to the Duran and Guirassy reports currently.

Having said that defenders seem to be apriority for the manager although both he and the club ave failed to confirm whether new arrivals are likely.

One source said: “We may get one or two or none in – it really is that kind of window this winter.