Jhon Duran transfer latest as £80m Aston Villa claim made and alternative option emerges
Aston Villa's resolve over striker Jhon Duran could be tested if any club were to present an offer worth in the region of £80m, according to reports - but one particular suitor appear to have turned their attentions elsewhere for a new centre forward in the January transfer window.
Duran, 21, has scored 12 goals in 29 appearances across three different competitions so far this season, signed a new contract in October which runs until 2030 so Villa have plenty of security on that front, but the interest from elsewhere has not subsided despite that development in the autumn.
The centre forward was of interest to Chelsea and West Ham United in the summer transfer window, but Duran remained at the club and indeed scored the winner at the London Stadium on the opening weekend of the season, indicating with his celebration that he would be remaining with the club.
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Both West Ham and Chelsea, as well as French giants PSG, have been linked again - West Ham supposedly had a bid rejected out of hand, while Chelsea, who are discussing deals for Axel Disasi and Joao Felix, could test Villa before Monday night's transfer window deadline.
One side who look to have placed their focus and efforts into bringing in a different striker, however, are Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr, who have the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Sadio Mane, Aymeric Laporte and Marcelo Brozovic on their books. They were linked with a big money move for Duran, with the sale of Anderson Talisca to Fenerbahce pending.
They, though, are instead looking to complete a move for Bayer Leverkusen forward Victor Boniface, who fired the Bundesliga side to the German title with 14 goals last season. The Nigerian international is the subject of negotiations, reports Fabrizio Romano, between the two clubs after Al-Nassr's interest in Duran wasn't initially entertained by Villa.
