- West Ham could sign Villa striker Jhon Duran with improved offer
- Villa have already rejected a deal involving money and players for the 20-year-old
- Hammers midfielder Lewis Orford could have ended up at Villa Park in that deal
West Ham are stepping up their pursuit of striker Jhon Duran and could match Aston Villa’s £40million valuation after their opening bid for the player was rejected.
According to The independentVilla have reportedly rejected a £32million bid for the Colombian striker, in a deal that includes both players and cash, with Hammers’ 18-year-old midfielder Lewis Orford reportedly heading the other way.
Duran, 20, has already attracted interest from other Premier League teams this summer, with Chelsea reportedly showing interest in the young striker earlier in the transfer window.
It is believed the Blues were unwilling to pay the £40million Villa are asking for the club, a figure the Brum club have always asked for until now.
West Ham could sign striker Jhon Duran this summer if they can meet Villa’s £40m price tag
West Ham’s new head coach Julen Lopetegui wants to expand his attacking line this summer
This created space for the Hammers to complete a deal, with new manager Julen Lopetegui looking to strengthen his attacking line ahead of the new season.
It is becoming increasingly likely that Duran will swap his claret and blue shirt from Birmingham for that of the East London club, with him reportedly keen to move to another Premier League club where he can make his mark.
Duran joined Villa from MLS club Chicago Fire in January 2023 for a transfer fee of around £18 million.
He scored five goals for the Villains during that period, but played second fiddle to England striker Ollie Watkins, starting just three times in 23 league games.
In January, Mail Sport revealed that head coach Unai Emery and his player had been at odds at times, with the 20-year-old said to have become frustrated by decisions to substitute him at various points during Villa’s European campaign.
Hammers youngster Lewis Orford was part of West Ham’s bid in their bid to sign Duran
Like his England team-mate, Duran is also a full international, having made 10 appearances for his native Colombia, having played just 12 minutes of the South American nation’s ill-fated Copa America campaign this month.
Lewis Orford, meanwhile, is an England youth international, having played six times for the club’s academy in the EFL Trophy.
The 18-year-old was also part of the Hammers’ FA Youth Cup-winning squad in 2023.