- Aston Villa have let it be known that Jhon Duran is not for sale in January
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Even though he has played barely 10 minutes since Boxing Day, Jhon Duran is the centre of attention at Aston Villa.
The Colombian’s glorious unpredictability makes him one of Europe’s most watchable players. And off the pitch it is just as difficult to know what will happen next.
In this transfer window, Villa have let it be known that Duran is not for sale, after a substantial bid from West Ham on Monday and interest from Paris Saint-Germain.
Boss Unai Emery said last week that he would like to keep the 21-year-old at the club for the next 10 years, adding the caveat: ‘I don’t know whether we will keep (Duran and Ollie Watkins) here for a long time but hopefully we will.’
Yet in a relationship this delicate, those opinions can change day to day. Indeed, Mail Sport understands at the end of 2024 clubs across Europe believed if they made a bid, Villa would be listening.
While the price was high, probably second only to Jack Grealish’s £100million move to Manchester City in the list of Villa’s record sales, Duran’s admirers were confident Villa would be willing to do business.
It seems odd. Why would a club still involved in this season’s Champions League, where a win in Monaco on Tuesday would likely put them in the last 16, consider selling their top scorer, especially when he is one of the most exciting young players in the world?
The answer is complex. Like many clubs, Villa must keep a close eye on Premier League spending rules. They escaped a possible points deduction this season only by selling Brazil midfielder Douglas Luiz to Juventus in late August.
There is every expectation that it will be a close-run thing again for many clubs, Villa among them, when they submit their next accounts at the end of May or June.
Selling Duran, who tops the Premier League charts at 86 minutes per goal — ahead of Mo Salah, Alexander Isak and Erling Haaland — would probably solve Villa’s issues with profit and sustainability rules (PSR) at a stroke.
His profile is every top club’s dream: a young, quick, powerful centre forward who takes plenty of shots and has ample room for improvement.
Former Villa sporting director Johan Lange brought Duran from MLS side Chicago Fire for about £17m two years ago. He is worth substantially more than that now.
It still begs the question: why sell him at all? Again, the answer is complex. Duran’s strengths can also be foibles. There is an unstructured quality to his play and his demeanour which, while entertaining for the neutral, means at times he can be difficult to coach and manage. With some players, coaches know exactly what they will get from day to day. Duran is not that guy.
Not long after he had signed a new contract with a huge pay rise, Duran was punching and kicking the seat in front of him shortly after being substituted in a Champions League fixture against Bologna. He had just scored and was angry to have been replaced by Watkins.
Emery played it down but these are incidents managers can live without. Since Duran’s red card at Newcastle on Boxing Day, Watkins has regained his place in the starting XI and scored in the last two games.
A year ago, Villa were close to moving Duran on loan to another English club, only for that club to rethink as they doubted how well Duran would fit into their dressing room. Last summer, Villa were desperate to find a buyer for Duran, who would have moved to West Ham had they offered about £40m.
Of all the clubs who were informed about Duran, PSG showed the most interest. The French champions are desperate for a No 9 and may revisit this deal — if not now, then in the summer. If Duran keeps doing well in the Champions League, Villa can demand a higher fee.
After serving his three-match ban for the red card at Newcastle last month, Duran was back in the squad at Everton last Wednesday — but did not leave the bench as Watkins scored the only goal. He was then a late replacement for Watkins in the 2-2 draw at Arsenal.
Meanwhile, Emery remains desperate for reinforcements and this is where transfer chief Monchi earns his salary.
In an era of data-driven, process-led recruitment, Monchi is a throwback. The Spaniard is an old-fashioned deal-maker who tries to keep several plates spinning. He has a huge network of contacts and can pivot quickly from one target to another. Plans can change in a heartbeat. It can be a wild ride, especially with PSR in the background.
Villa thought they had a deal for Donyell Malen nearly a fortnight ago, but Mail Sport understands Borussia Dortmund tried to renegotiate the price when they learned Ipswich would be paying Villa a similar fee for Jaden Philogene.
With 41 Netherlands caps and plenty of top-level experience, Malen is a different kettle of fish to Philogene, who is unproven in the top tier. Villa ended up paying about £23m for Malen and selling Philogene for about £20m. Good business, all told.
Though he is ineligible for Tuesday’s game, Malen will probably soon climb above Leon Bailey in the pecking order as it is thought Emery has become frustrated with the Jamaican’s inconsistent displays. The Dutchman can also play through the middle, which brings us back to Duran.
Predicting the future for Duran is a fool’s errand. He could throw a hissy fit at the Stade Louis II or score a hat-trick. He might even do both, possibly in the same 20-minute period.
Should Villa stick or twist? It is a fiendishly difficult call. And until the window closes on February 3, nothing should be ruled out.
