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Jhon Duran reveals summer transfer saga truth and makes Aston Villa prediction
Jhon Duran admits he had his head turned in the summer transfer window, but is thankful to Unai Emery, Monchi and Damian Vidagany for helping him refocus at Aston Villa before his stunning start to the season.
The 20-year-old striker had interest from clubs all over Europe in the last transfer window and Villa turned down several approaches, including from West Ham. Duran wanted the move to the London Stadium, but it never materialised and after talks with Emery, Monchi and Vidagany, he has knuckled down to play a key role in the club's strong to the campaign.
After scoring the winner at West Ham, Duran then bagged against Leicester City, Everton and Wolves before scoring the only goal of the game in the victory against Bayern Munich last month. He has scored a total of eight goals in 14 total appearances having also struck in matches against Wycombe, Bologna and Crystal Palace.
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Reflecting on how close he was to leaving in the summer, Duran told Sky Sports: "Yes, I think there were rumours. As a young man, the head goes to other places. But there was always total support from Unai, from Monchi, and above all from Damian [Vidagany].
"The three of them are important pillars in this club. They have achieved many things in a short time, and they have helped me a lot.
"They were very valuable to me because they kept me grounded, they told me things as they have to be said.
"So I think that helps, in a way, the mind, and they ... I don't know, the start of the season was about my mind. Now it's different.
"With experience, we're going to do big things, and we're working for that. Thanks to them, we're here, and I'm happy here."
In his first press conference before Villa's trip to West Ham in August, Emery fielded questions about Duran given that there were still weeks remaining in the summer window at the time.
"I believe in his potential, he helped us last year in some moments being a very important player," Emery said. "Of course, he is young and making mistakes sometimes. I want to try to teach him as well as a person, as I was last year and will this year if he needs it.
"As a player and a professional, taking responsibility himself and trying to create a mentality here, he is one of the players I have to be close to in supporting him. The most important thing is he is ready and available and he is with us, with our shirt.
"He is young and he has a big potential to exploit. He will need time and he will need to be patient. Sometimes he wasn't being patient and he wants everything so quick. To be here fighting with Watkins for one position and seeing how successful Watkins' career is here, it's not easy. He was telling us he was thinking his best option was to leave so he could play more and more for another club and fulfil his potential, I can understand it.
"We were always talking to him to help and support him. We wanted to take the best decision for everybody - for him, for the club and for us. Of course, when he makes a mistake like that it is not the right way and so we spoke to him. But these were a young person's mistakes that a mature and responsible person would not do. So the process with him is to try to support and help him go the right way."
