Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran is keen on a move to West Ham United during the summer transfer window.
According to James Nursery of the Daily Mirror, the 20-year-old will inform Villa this week that he wants to join the Hammers.
The Hammers have already made three bids for Duran and are getting close to securing a deal for him. Villa is demanding a fee of around £40 million.
Chelsea and Newcastle United have also registered interest in signing Duran, but it appears the striker wants to play for fellow Spanish speaker Julen Lopetegui (although Unai Emery also speaks Spanish!) who has offered him regular playing time.
Nursey wrote on X (22 July): “Expecting Jhon Duran to this week tell Aston Villa he wants to move to West Ham.
“Villa asking for £40m. Hammers getting close after 3 bids. Chelsea and Newcastle also interested in striker but Duran wants to play for fellow Spanish speaker Lopetegui who can offer first team football.”
West Ham will look to bolster their attacking department this summer, and they are ready to spend big on Duran who scored five goals despite managing only three starts in the Premier League last season.
The Hammers are not afraid to back their manager with transfer funds. They have signed Luis Guilherme for around £25 million and signed Max Kilman for £40 million from Wolves. Wes Foderingham also joined on a free transfer.
Despite their push to sign him, Villa seems unwilling to lower their asking price for the prodigiously gifted young striker.
Michail Antonio is fast approaching the fag end of his career but he is looking to stay at the club. If Duran arrives, he will compete with Antonio and Danny Ings for the regular starting role.
The Colombia international has four years remaining on his current deal at Villa Park, and Villa are under no pressure to sell him, having successfully negotiated the threat of PSR last month.
West Ham have offered up to £35 million, including a sell-on clause, but it seems they will have to come up with another £5 million extra to secure his signature.
Ollie Watkins will remain Villa’s first-choice striker next season, which means an exit for Duran could be highly likely.
