AC Milan are eyeing Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran and Unai Emery's side are open to offers… while Villans swap Finn Azaz for FA Cup rivals Middlesbrough
- The 20-year-old striker was recruited under former sporting director Lange
- But Villa could struggle to find a suitable replacement to replace Watkins
- It's about survival! FA Cup replays must continue for the good of English football It all starts
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Aston Villa are willing to listen to offers for Jhon Duran if they can find a suitable replacement for this window, and the Colombian has interest from AC Milan.
However, the club may face difficulties in finding a candidate who can provide a robust back-up option to first-choice striker Ollie Watkins during the January window.
Watkins has been in blistering form this season, effectively leaving Duran out of Emery's immediate plans.
Mail Sport also understands that the head coach and his player have been at odds at times, with the 20-year-old said to have been frustrated by decisions to replace him at various points during Villa's European campaign.
The Villans have sold Finn Azaz to Middlesbrough for £2million, but he will not be eligible for Saturday's FA Cup match against his former club.
Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran has caught the eye of AC Milan and Villa are open to offers
Meanwhile, the club has moved to Saturday's rivals Middlesbrough via Finn Azaz (centre).
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The player previously spent the last two seasons on loan at Plymouth Argyle and was described by then head coach Steve Schumacher as 'the most intelligent footballer I have ever met'.
Villa, who have shown interest in Crystal Palace and West Ham goalkeeper Ronnie Edwards at Peterborough United, continue to manage their spending and have allowed left-back Ben Chrisene to join Blackburn on loan.
Last season the 19-year-old spent time on loan at Kilmarnock before being sidelined almost a year ago when he tore his medial ligament.
Chrisene has two years left on his current contract at Villa, signed under then head coach Steven Gerrard.
Rovers captain Lewis Travis has joined Ipswich on a season-long loan, climbing the Championship table to join the promotion challengers.
Villa teenager Ben Chrisene (right, for Kilmarnock in 2023) on loan to Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn head coach Jon Dahl Tomasson admitted the move had its roots in the club's financial position.
“He's one of the more expensive guys in our group, so (the move) will free up some space in the finance department to bring in some players as well,” Tomasson said.