October 24th 2024.
According to reports, Arsenal is considering making a move for Jhon Duran during the January transfer window. In fact, Troy Deeney himself has stated that the Gunners "need" a striker like Duran if they want to achieve their goals. The 20-year-old has been in top form, scoring seven goals in 12 appearances for Aston Villa this season.
However, despite his strong start, Duran has only started two matches since the 2024/25 campaign began and was visibly upset when he was substituted in their recent game against Bologna. He has mostly played second fiddle to Ollie Watkins at Villa and is eager for more opportunities to prove himself on the pitch.
During the summer, there were reports of interest from Chelsea and West Ham for Duran, but he ended up signing a new contract with Villa until 2030. Recent rumors suggest that Arsenal has approached Villa for a possible transfer, and Deeney believes Duran would fit perfectly with the Gunners.
Deeney, a former captain of Watford, commented on Duran's recent form, stating that he has been impressed. However, he also mentioned the pressure that comes with being a guaranteed starter for a big club, which is a "completely different" situation. Deeney himself has made mistakes in the past and believes that having experienced players around Duran would be beneficial for his growth.
The striker also signed a new deal with Villa earlier this month, but the club is aware of the growing interest from other European clubs, including Barcelona. As a response, they have put a hefty price tag of £75 million on Duran and will not consider any offers below that amount. In fact, Villa's sporting director Monchi revealed that as many as 40 teams showed interest in Duran during the summer, but they were not able to meet their asking price.
Despite the potential move, Duran has the support of his current manager Unai Emery, who has a lot of faith in him. The young striker has shown his capabilities with his impressive goal-scoring record, but there is still a lot of pressure for him to consistently perform at a high level. As Deeney mentioned, being a No.9 for a big club comes with the expectation of scoring 20+ goals every season, which is a "completely different" challenge.
In conclusion, it remains to be seen if Arsenal will make a move for Duran in January or if he will stay at Villa and continue to develop under Emery's guidance. But one thing is for sure, the young Colombian has a bright future ahead of him and has caught the attention of several top clubs in Europe.
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