Aston Villa have made a pre-emptive offer and it’s surely great news for West Ham in their pursuit of striker Jhon Duran. They may both play in claret and blue and be similar sized clubs, but there’s a stark contrast between West Ham and Aston Villa when it comes to transfers. The vast majority of West Ham transfers become sagas played out across the media.
But Aston Villa are a rare thing in modern football – they get business done quickly, efficiently and stealthily. Although it’s hardly surprising with football director royalty like Monchi running the show at Aston Villa.
The arrival of Tim Steidten as West Ham’s technical director last summer has undoubtedly improved the way the Hammers do business.
Villa and West Ham’s contrasting transfer conduct
The acquisitions of Edson Alvarez and Mohammed Kudus last summer – and arrival of Brazilian teen sensation Luis Guilherme and a Premier League captain in Max Kilman this – are evidence of that.
It’s been far from easy for Steidten this summer, though. Aston Villa just needed to fine tune their squad for their Basque boss Unai Emery. But the Hammers need a major overhaul for their own Basque head coach Julen Lopetegui.
The priority for West Ham since signing Kilman has been a new striker. The prime target, as West Ham and Villa fans will be all too aware, has been Jhon Duran. Having got their hopes up after he did a crossed Hammers gesture on social media – Hammers fans have voiced their disappointment that a move for wantaway Villa striker Duran might be off.
Journalist Alan Nixon said a deal between West Ham and Aston Villa for the 20-year-old Colombian should not be ruled out yet. And West Ham told Hammers News ‘never say never’ about the move for Duran.
Well now there has been a massive hint a deal could still be on the cards. Because Aston Villa have made a pre-emptive offer and it’s surely great news for West Ham over Duran.
According to The Express, Villa have contacted Crystal Palace with a view to signing Jean-Philippe Mateta.
The move comes after contract talks stalled between Palace and Mateta, who hit career best form under Oliver Glasner last season.
And the report states Aston Villa, with Champions League football to offer next season, want to sign Mateta as a direct replacement for Duran.
“Express Sport understands they (Villa) have reached out to Mateta’s camp to explore the possibility of a summer transfer,” the report says. Villa could test the waters over the coming weeks as they scout out a replacement for exit-bound Jhon Duran.”
There was further encouragement for the Hammers earlier when Sky Sports claimed Villa have also submitted an offer for Hoffenheim forward Maximilian Beier.
Aston Villa and Chelsea have submitted offers for Hoffenheim forward Maximilian Beier, according to Sky in Germany 👀⚽
Although this has since been denied by the likes of Fabrizio Romano, the intent is clearly there for Villa to bring in a replacement for Duran.
And that surely means he could still yet join the Hammers.
