Jhon Duran was a key transfer target for West Ham United in the summer, but the club missed out on signing the promising Aston Villa striker.
Instead, the Hammers opted to bring in Niclas Füllkrug, a 31-year-old German forward, a decision that is now coming under scrutiny as Duran continues to impress at Villa Park while Füllkrug struggles to find his feet in East London.
The summer saga saw West Ham’s manager Julen Lopetegui and technical director Tim Steidten settle on signing Füllkrug, despite Duran himself being keen on joining the Hammers.
The 20-year-old Colombian had even made his desire clear, famously doing the ‘crossed hammers’ gesture during a live stream, signalling his interest in a move to the London Stadium.
However, the sticking point in negotiations was Aston Villa’s valuation of their young striker. It is believed that Villa were holding out for a fee north of £40 million, a price that West Ham were unwilling to meet.
As a result, the deal fell through, and Duran remained at Villa while West Ham turned to Füllkrug in their search for attacking reinforcements.
Now, with each goal that Duran scores for Villa, the decision to sign Füllkrug instead is looking increasingly questionable.
The frustration for West Ham fans has only been compounded by new revelations that suggest the Hammers could have signed Duran for a lower price than initially reported.
According to talkSPORT host Andy Goldstein, West Ham’s failure to land Duran came down to a matter of just £5 million.
Speaking on talkSPORT, Goldstein revealed: “I’m led to believe that the reason West Ham didn’t get him is because they’d only pay £30 million for him and not £35 million. The rest is history.”
If this information is accurate, it adds another layer of frustration for West Ham supporters. To have missed out on a talent like Duran for the sake of £5 million, when the original asking price was thought to be £40 million or more, is a bitter pill to swallow. As Goldstein noted, “That is beyond frustrating.”
The decision not to push through a deal for Duran is all the more painful given the impact he has made at Villa. His pace, explosive movement, and enthusiasm are exactly what West Ham seem to be lacking up front.
In contrast, Füllkrug has struggled to make an impact since arriving at the London Stadium, and while there is still hope that he can turn things around, comparisons with Duran are inevitable.
There is now a growing sense of ‘what might have been’ among the Hammers faithful. Had Lopetegui and Steidten secured Duran, it’s possible that the mood around the club would be very different.
The 20-year-old’s electric pace and dynamic playing style would have added a new dimension to West Ham’s attack, something sorely needed given their current struggles in front of goal.
Of course, Füllkrug still deserves time to settle and prove his worth, but the early signs have left many wondering whether the wrong decision was made in the summer.
If Goldstein’s claims are true, the fact that West Ham’s owners refused to stretch to £35 million for Duran, especially when the Colombian had shown such clear interest in the move, will only deepen the frustration among supporters.
Ultimately, Jhon Duran may prove to be the one that got away for West Ham, a missed opportunity that could have transformed their fortunes this season.