West Ham United are still feeling the sting of a missed summer transfer opportunity involving Aston Villa’s rising star, Jhon Duran.
Now, after a highly successful start to the season, the young Colombian striker has broken his silence about the potential move to East London that ultimately fell through.
In the summer window, West Ham had made it a top priority to secure a new forward to boost their attacking options.
Aston Villa’s Jhon Duran quickly emerged as a standout candidate, identified by technical director Tim Steidten and then-manager Julen Lopetegui as the ideal addition.
The prospect of signing Duran generated considerable enthusiasm among Hammers fans, especially given the strong resistance from Villa supporters who were wary of losing their young talent to a Premier League rival.
The buzz among West Ham fans was understandable. If Aston Villa fans, who have the reliable Ollie Watkins leading their line, were so protective of Duran, there had to be something special about him.
However, the proposed move hit a stumbling block when West Ham’s ownership balked at Villa’s asking price of £45 million, deeming it excessive for such an inexperienced player.
Since then, Duran has made West Ham’s decision appear increasingly short-sighted.
Despite some initial tension with Villa fans—who took issue with Duran’s crossed Hammers gesture on social media when the transfer seemed imminent—he has quickly redeemed himself with an impressive run of form this season.
By scoring his eighth goal midweek, Duran has not only proven his worth but also attracted the interest of clubs across Europe, netting notable goals against teams such as Bayern Munich and Everton.
Reflecting on West Ham’s failure to land Duran, some fans place the blame on Steidten, while others look to the club’s owners.
Steidten spent nearly a month negotiating with Villa over Duran but ultimately opted to save funds for other signings. Instead of securing the young forward, he brought in injury-prone, 31-year-old Niclas Fullkrug.
Now, with Duran’s stellar performances, there is a growing sense of regret among West Ham supporters and club officials alike, who wonder what might have been if the transfer had gone through.
One moment that stands out for West Ham fans, and perhaps rubs salt in the wound, is Duran’s match-winning goal against them on the opening day of the season. This “redemption arc” has been sweet for Villa fans but a bitter pill for those in East London.
For the first time, Duran has spoken publicly about the failed move and offered an honest assessment of his current situation at Aston Villa, hinting at a potential future away from the club.
West Ham reportedly still view him as a long-term target, particularly as they look to bring in a younger striker in the next transfer window.
The Hammers are said to be hopeful they can take advantage of Duran’s limited playing time under Unai Emery and entice him with the prospect of more frequent starts.
Although Duran signed a long-term deal with Villa last month, he hinted that the door may not be closed entirely.
In a candid interview with Sky Sports, he acknowledged that the transfer to West Ham was indeed a possibility over the summer, though he refrained from naming them directly.
He also expressed his desire to be a lead striker and noted that, while he is content at Villa for now, he has ambitions that might lead him elsewhere.
“I think (Watkins) is in his moment, and you have to respect,” Duran said.
“Because he has the numbers, he’s doing the work, he has everything, he has the understanding, the experience, and I think I’m on my way to that. I’m on my way to being at the level. I keep working to improve a little more. Wanting to always be like I am now.”
Duran’s remarks reflect a player determined to reach the same level as Watkins but also one who yearns for more playing time.
“And for me, it’s very important, because in the future, we don’t know if what’s happening now can happen in another team, I don’t know.
“Nobody knows the future. But I think it’s also part of life, of work, to be mentally strong, especially. Because these are issues that, as a young player, you see the numbers he has this season, and you want to play all the time. So I think that it helps you to adjust a little for the future.”
Duran admitted there was indeed a real chance of leaving Villa in the summer.
“Yes (there was a possibility of leaving in the summer), I think there were rumours,” he acknowledged.
“As a young man, the head goes to other places. But there was always total support from Unai, from [president of football operations] Monchi, and above all from Damian [Vidagany, director of football operations].”
While Duran’s commitment to Aston Villa remains solid for now, his comments will no doubt give West Ham hope that they might still secure the young striker’s services in the future.
For now, though, Duran’s loyalty to Villa and his pursuit of a starting role alongside Watkins suggest he has unfinished business in the Midlands.