The Colombia international has had an impressive start to the season with Villa, and it was confirmed yesterday that he signed a new contract, providing a major boost for manager Unai Emery and the fans.
Duran apparently had other offers, too, with TBR Football reporting that Barcelona showed interest in the talented 20-year-old, alongside interest from Bayern and PSG.
The report also states that Duran was available in the summer, making it clear that the South American youngster has worked hard to turn things around and earn the trust of Villa boss Emery.
Jhon Duran Transfer: Will He Join a Top Club Like Barca?
Duran has likely made the right choice by not rushing into a big move, as he’s currently thriving under Emery’s guidance. If he continues to progress, he’ll certainly have future opportunities to join a club like Barcelona.
The Catalan giants will eventually need to plan for a long-term replacement for veteran Robert Lewandowski. In a year or two, this could present an opportunity for them to revisit their interest in Duran.
PSG could benefit from signing a top young attacker following the loss of Kylian Mbappe this summer, while Bayern may eventually need to find a long-term successor to Harry Kane, who is aging, though that might not be an urgent issue yet.
For now, Villa fans can keep enjoying Duran’s performances, and his new contract is a major boost for a club that’s been on an exciting upward trajectory in recent years.
Barcelona, Bayern, PSG Face Setback as Villa Star Stays
Jhon Duran has rapidly become a fan favorite at Villa Park this season, scoring six goals in just 10 appearances, mostly as a substitute.
Duran was linked with a move to Chelsea over the summer and was seen as just another target on Stamford Bridge’s wish list. However, the Colombia international has proven this season that Todd Boehly and the team might actually have a solid long-term plan in mind.
Duran signed a new contract earlier this week, extending his stay at Aston Villa until 2030. This adds two more years to the deal he signed when joining from MLS side Chicago Fire for £18m in January 2023.
TBR Football reports that Duran had attracted interest from top European clubs, including Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, and Bayern Munich, the team Duran’s goal helped defeat at Villa Park last week in the Champions League.
The report also states that manager Unai Emery was prepared to move the 20-year-old on in the summer due to concerns over his training attitude, despite Duran being Emery’s second signing after returning to England following an unsuccessful attempt to rebuild at Arsenal.
Duran has been pushing for a starting spot at Villa this season, making just one start so far and frequently coming on in place of fellow striker Ollie Watkins. However, both forwards were on the pitch together in their recent draw against Manchester United.
Villa was reportedly asking for £50m to let Duran leave, and it’s easy to see why given his strong impact this season, with the club sitting in fifth place going into the international break.
Given the additional Champions League fixtures Emery’s side will play this season, securing Duran’s future appears a wise decision, with ample playing time expected to allow him to share the workload with Watkins.
Watkins has had a slow start to the season, with the second-city club carefully managing his minutes following his involvement in the Euros with England this summer.
The 28-year-old has been included in Lee Carsley’s England squad for the upcoming Nations League matches against Greece and Finland, while Duran is set to join Colombia for their upcoming games against Bolivia and Chile.
Duran has earned 12 caps for his country, scoring once, and will be looking to increase that total given his current form.
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