By far the biggest piece of West Ham news yesterday was the report that former Hammers transfer target and Al-Nassr striker Jhon Durán was available for loan.
Naturally, two and two were hastily put together, and the young Colombian was quickly linked with a move to the London Stadium.
However, it’s worth remembering the full context behind West Ham’s failed pursuit—and why it’s unlikely to be revived.
When the Irons first made a move for Durán, the 21-year-old believed the deal was all but done. So confident was he that he even made the crossed hammers gesture on social media, seemingly celebrating his imminent switch from Aston Villa.
Duran poses for West Ham fans as he readies himself to sign
Negotiations reportedly broke down over a £3m difference in valuation, and just like that, the deal collapsed. Durán returned to the Midlands, embarrassed, and with the crossed hammers sign still lingering over him like a bad smell.
But the real kicker came in the aftermath. Sources close to the player confirmed to C&H that his agent was furious and vowed never to deal with the West Ham hierarchy again.
And that’s the crucial detail here. With Durán now being touted for a move away from Al-Nassr, there’s very little chance his camp would even entertain a call from the Hammers—let alone agree terms.
That said, beggars can’t be choosers and if the striker really is desperate to leave Saudi and have guaranteed Premier League football there won’t be too many options.
Hi gang,
We are the noose to the gallows, the Ying to the Yang, the rainbow to the pot of Gold! But what does that mean to us the supporters. Well what it means is Sugar has gone to his pals to shaft is for an inexplainable £100m debt we know nothing about to hit us soon just like numerous others in the past 15-20 years because he just doesn’t like us and we don’t help him with his vicious, spiteful plans to shaft players because he wants his money back. He can’t stand transfers and in all honesty probably hated football too. It’s not the profession he thought it was and his input and dedication is not redoing the profits he thought it would. We were a whipping boy and some how it’s changed, a tipping point is possible more likely an unexplainable variant (an X factor) that had no shelf life that has turned into an unstoppable asteroid heading to earth to take it out and I ain’t talking dates. We stand at the moment with no debts we have very little to our name and we face another challenge possibly that I know is a work of fiction. Our biggest asset is we have never ran from anyone, we don’t stand (or have Last Stands) we simply don’t run. Cometh the day, cometh the man is one way of looking at it the way I look it is is ‘ will you die for me on that pitch ‘ ‘ yes I will!’ ‘ then I will love you and die for you! ‘ that’s what football means to me and us and makes us what we are. No more and no less TTETVBE
Never read so much nonsense re Duran. Villa played us along all the time as they knew they could get a lot more for Duran and he went to Saudi for £71 million and mega wages. No way could we pay that sort of money plus destroy wage structure for a guy with attitude problems. We didn’t miss out , we dodged a bullet!
Pure speculation, Duran or anyone of consequence will not entertain coming to us . This club has become a circus, maybe it is time to put faith in our youth instead of buying “cast offs” , it won’t happen because it’s too risky of course! 60 years supporting this club, and I have never been so uninspired, won’t be going anymore, quite sad what has happened to a terrific club, terrible self serving owners ( and more Sullivan’s to come) no more than average manager, don’t own the ground, I am normally a glass half full person, but as far as West Ham are concerned I have to say , ” someone’s nicked my glass.🙏🏻
Anyone brave enough to attend home games in the coming season deserves full credit. Luckily I swerved going after our final home game against Leeds when Moyes was in charge.
I’m not returning to our soulless athletics stadium until Sullivan & Brady have both left.
I don’t see the point of watching turgid football. I have no confidence Sullivan will sign players to get excited about and genuinely feel like we are going to be relegated.
Surely the board can get rid of sullivan( no large s for sullivan- he’s too small!). West Ham have been constantly dragged down by sullivan for years with his poor decision making, he IS a total amateur- Lopetegui being the perfect example!! Duran was embarrassing. When your dealing with figures like he has done, 3million either way is not worth worrying about when nogotiating for someone who potentially could earn you 10/20 times that amount. Sullivan is a barrow boy ,sorry, I’m insulting barrowboys!!
Can’t wait for Sullivan & Brady to get the hell out of our club so we can start being optimistic again.
It’s been painful watching them both handle the new era after Moyes.
Del Boy Sullivan is our Hammers barrow boy! Or should we call him Dave Boy?
Sullivan is such a joke to lose a huge transfer over 3 million fee. Worse than I thought.
Sullivan constantly says how hard other clubs are to deal with, he burns bridges with everyone because he is so unprofessional and has amateur negotiating tactics that once a club has dealt with him they never want to again.
He is such an embarrassment to the football club. You would think someone who has been around football so long would try to have good relationships with other clubs
The club could argue that Tim Steidten was responsible for pulling the plug on the deal, and leaving Duran high and dry, therefore giving the club a clean slate following Steidten’s departure.
The club have constantly scapegoated Tim for Sullivan’s actions.
There is no hiding place now for Sully…..wait….. he can now blame Kyle and Potter.
I wouldn’t say his agent refusing to deal with West Ham is an issue.
End of the day, agents get replaced all the time.
If Duran had said he wouldn’t deal with West Ham or sign for them or such then, yeah, you’ve got an issue. But if he’s as keen now as he was last summer to join then getting himself a new agent is no hassle for him.
West Ham’s issue is the Super Dildo Brother is calling the shots… and forcing every fan into alcoholism with every new action he does which requires a bunch of shots to build up our copium levels.
W Ham didnt burn there bridges Sullivan burnt the bridges
Sullivan wasn’t prepared to pay an additional £3m was probably the most expensive mistake he’s ever made as Duran was worth what was being asked for him and a whole lot more the moment that he signed a longer contract with Villa.
Last Summer was a Sullivan disaster show with poor decision after poor decision, nobody but nobody but nobody thought Lopetegui to be the right appointment.
Sullivans record of low balling clubs and not paying the figures required is embarrassing. He constantly annoys players, agents and directors of other clubs which has a detrimental outcome due to his approach when negotiating transfers.
West Ham desperately need a Sporting Director with full control of both player and manager acquisitions.
Until then we will continue to miss out on top talent.