Aston Villa: Jhon Duran transfer and Ollie Watkins partnership in focus ahead of West Ham clash
Aston Villa rejected a £57m bid from West Ham for Jhon Duran on Monday; Hammers had tried to sign the striker in the summer; Duran has best strike rate in Premier League but largely as a sub, with Unai Emery unhappy with on-field partnership with Ollie Watkins in defeat to Monaco
Sunday 26 January 2025 17:04, UK
"I'm committed to get the best out of him. I want him here."
Those were the words of Unai Emery when he was asked about Jhon Duran after Aston Villa's opening weekend victory at West Ham.
The striker had stepped off the bench in place of Ollie Watkins, struck Villa's winner and apologetically celebrated in front of the travelling fans at the London Stadium.
It was just a few weeks on from Duran making an 'Irons' sign during a livestream as West Ham pursued a move for the Colombian - but that demonstration to the Villa supporters seemed to say which team in claret and blue he wanted to play for.
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However, as the sides prepare to meet again, live on Sky Sports on Sunday, Duran and a potential move to West Ham is once again making headlines.
Earlier this week, Villa rejected a £57m bid for the 21-year-old from the Londoners. Back in August, Emery had admitted the club were open to a 'good offer' for Duran and that remains - but Duran's value has risen.
He has scored 12 goals in 28 appearances this season, including that stunner against Bayern Munich in the Champions League. Of players to have hit the net multiple times in the Premier League this season, he has the best strike rate per 90 minutes.
Significantly, Duran also put pen to paper on a new Villa contract in the days after that Bayern screamer, a deal which runs until 2030.
West Ham aren't the only club in search of a goal-scoring frontman in this window and a player of Duran's skillset is in short supply. "Centre-forwards that can score goals are worth more than that," said Sky Sports pundit and former Arsenal frontman Alan Smith after the £57m offer was turned down.
And yet Duran remains something of a conundrum for Emery and Villa.
Back on that curtain-raising Saturday, the Spanish coach harnessed the attributes of Watkins and Duran effectively.
The England man, short on conditioning after a delayed return from the Euros campaign, stretched the Hammers for the first hour. Then Duran arrived to finish them off.
"Today we prepared the plan to use both Watkins and Duran across 90 minutes and they did fantastic work," Emery said in that post-match press conference.
'Super sub' became Duran's label in the weeks that followed, as decisive strikes late on against Leicester and Everton, and then to seal the points against Wolves, underlined the difference he could make exploiting defences softened up by Watkins.
But Duran is an ambitious young man. "Patience has never been my thing," he told Sky Sports' Natalie Gedra in November, during a strikingly frank interview.
"I think [Watkins] is in his moment, and you have to respect [him] because he has the numbers, he's doing the work, he has everything, he has the understanding, the experience. And I think I'm on my way to that. I'm on my way to being at the level."
It looked like he had carved out that opportunity for himself in December with three goals in three consecutive Premier League starts, including in the win over Man City.
But what appeared to be an unfortunate red card for Duran at Newcastle saw Watkins return to the XI.
Surely though, there must be a way to exploit their talents together? If there is, Emery is yet to find it.
In the 35 games they've been on the pitch together, they've scored just eight goals. They are an unusual strike force in that they become weaker than the sum of their parts when put together.
More worryingly for Emery, playing two up top also undermines the foundations and solidity of the team behind them. Villa have lost 13 of those 35 games and won just 10.
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"The last 20 or 25 minutes, when we played with two strikers, we lost our positioning," said Emery after he had thrown Duran on to join Watkins as Villa searched for an equaliser in their damaging Champions League loss at Monaco on Tuesday.
"It was my mistake when we played with two strikers because we lost positioning. We lost control of the game. We were very weak in the middle."
Expect Emery to start just one of them this weekend. Watkins is the most likely.
But five months on from the reverse fixture with West Ham, it is Duran and his role, potential and future which remains in the spotlight.
Emery: I don't know if Duran and other players will leave
When asked about Duran's future after reports emerged regarding a potential bid from Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr, Emery explained that he is unsure about changes to his squad before the window closes but insisted full focus remains on the challenge against West Ham.
"It is not only with Jhon Duran but other players as well," he said.
"When we are inside, I am focusing a lot on how we are thinking and planning each match and every player is focusing on it.
"Maybe some players can be in some rumours to leave from here or come here from other teams but I think every team is in the same situation.
"My focus and with the players we have is on the match against West Ham and being professional, mature, responsible and serious. Maybe in a few days some players can leave as well and some players can join from other teams.
"But the group we have here now has to be professional and responsible and play, focusing on each match.
"I don't know exactly until the last day of the transfer window how many players we can change in this squad - but on Sunday we are here with the players we have and 100 per cent focused on the match."
Watch Aston Villa vs West Ham live on Sky Sports Premier League on Sunday from 4pm; kick-off 4.30pm.
