In a recent tweet, The Daily Mirror journalist James Nursey stated that Aston Villa forward Jhon Duran wants to play for West Ham United this summer. It has been stated that the Hammers are facing competition in the form of Chelsea and Newcastle United in the race to land the Colombian attacker this off-season.
Duran’s Recent Rise At Aston Villa
The 20-year-old had a promising campaign at Villa Park recently as he put in a string of impressive performances for the Midlands club in the final third. Duran scored eight goals in 37 matches for the Villans last season across all fronts.
The talented youngster made most of his appearances off the bench which could be why he only averaged 0.9 shots, 0.2 key passes and 0.1 dribbles per 90 minutes in the Premier League. He was also a bit careless when distributing the ball after making just 71.1% of his attempted passes in the top tier of English football (stats via whoscored).
His current contract at Aston Villa will expire in the summer of 2028 which could make it difficult for the Hammers to sign him on a cut-price deal later this year.
What Will Duran Add To West Ham United Boss Julen Lopetegui’s Side?
Duran can find some space for himself to get some shots in at goal. He can be a decent finisher in the final third when he is playing well on the field. Standing at 1.85m, the Colombian striker can use his robust frame to hold possession up for his team but needs to find a way to improve his link-up play in the opposition half.
We can expect Duran to add more firepower to West Ham United head coach Julen Lopetegui’s attack. He is good enough to challenge for a regular starting spot at the East London club in the coming seasons.
At 20, Duran has the potential to be a future star in English football. Therefore, the Hammers would be wise to get a deal done for him before the end of this summer transfer window. He already knows the Premier League well and won’t take much time to adjust to life at the London Stadium. Thus, Lopetegui should focus on recruiting Duran this off-season.
