Aston Villa are open to selling Jhon Duran amid heightened interest from Arsenal and Chelsea, but only for an exceptional offer of £85 million or more.
Duran, one of the most coveted young strikers in football, has caught the attention of West Ham, PSG, and Al Nassr, alongside the two London giants.
The Hammers recently had a £57 million bid rejected, while Saudi club Al Nassr sees Duran as a possible successor to Cristiano Ronaldo, whose contract ends this season.
Chelsea nearly signed the 21-year-old Colombian forward last summer, and Arsenal have shown consistent interest in their quest for an elite goalscorer. However, Aston Villa’s steep valuation makes a transfer increasingly unlikely.
Reports from talkSPORT reveal Villa’s strong desire to retain Duran. Manager Unai Emery values the striker’s contributions as the team pursues a Premier League top-four finish and Champions League success.
Despite being the backup to Ollie Watkins, Duran has impressed this season with 12 goals from just seven starts in 28 appearances, averaging a goal every 85 minutes.
Since joining Villa from Chicago Fire for £18 million two years ago, Duran has thrived. He committed to the club long-term by signing a contract extension until 2030 in October.
However, his limited game time has fueled speculation about a potential move, and sources suggest Duran might be open to joining Ronaldo in the Middle East.
Arsenal fans, though, hope to see him paired with Bukayo Saka and Martin Ødegaard. Club legend Patrick Vieira has endorsed the move, calling Duran “quick, selfless, strong in the air, technically gifted, and tactically sharp.”
The young striker has a chance to showcase his talents and attract further interest when Aston Villa faces West Ham in the Premier League this Sunday.