Three minutes was all Jhon Duran needed to have a huge say on Aston Villa’s Premier League clash against Liverpool in the final week of the 2023/24 Premier League season. Introduced in the 79th minute with Unai Emery’s side trailing 3-1, the Colombian was on the scoresheet six minutes after his introduction with his drilled effort finding the bottom corner of Alisson’s goal.
Three minutes later and Villa had managed to rescue a point with Duran getting the better of the Brazilian once again. There was certainly a touch of fortune about the striker’s goal as Moussa Diaby’s pass cannoned off his thigh and went in but his contribution inside 180 second-half seconds highlighted just what he can bring to the pitch.
Duran causes chaos and unpredictability, making him an absolute nightmare for opposition defenders. Villa captain John McGinn made that point perfectly clear in his post-match interview with Sky Sports (via Birmingham World).
“This place got us going when we got the second goal. It’s a brilliant effort. Big Jhon is a bit nuts at times. He’s a nightmare sometimes to have in your team, but he’s got moments of quality,” said the Scotsman.
“Okay, the second goal [an accidental chip over Alisson] was not about quality, but the first one was a top finish. We will need to try to keep his feet on the ground the next couple of days.”
Linked with a surprise move to Chelsea in the January transfer window, Duran appears to be on the Blues’ radar once again as they look to bring in a new striker this summer. According to The Telegraph, Chelsea have rekindled their interest in the youngster with Benjamin Sesko now set to remain with RB Leipzig rather than seal a move to the Premier League.
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Amid links to players such as Viktor Gyokeres, Victor Osimhen and Dominic Solanke, Duran, who joined Villa in a deal worth £18million in January 2023, would cost less than the aforementioned trio. It is a move that may indeed suit Chelsea due to his potential price tag and the fact that he could develop into a very good Premier League player over the coming years.
Duran is rated highly by Emery at Villa Park but the Spaniard has been unable to guarantee him regular football due to the outstanding form of Ollie Watkins. The Medellin-born player was restricted to only 11 starts over the course of the campaign but he still managed to contribute with eight goals.
His sublime strike against Crystal Palace in September highlighted the quality in his locker, as did his first goal in the 3-3 draw with Liverpool. Although Duran and Villa do have Champions League football to look forward to from September onwards, the pull of Chelsea may be too much to resist for the starlet if indeed they try to lure him to SW6.
Speaking in January to Colombian outlet Win Sports TV about speculation over interest from Chelsea and AC Milan, Duran said: “I remain focused on Aston Villa. I am not aware of interest from AC Milan or Chelsea. They are giant clubs, and it would be a pleasure. But I have no knowledge of anything.” He added: “As a child you dream of playing there.”
Whereas Mauricio Pochettino was in charge at Stamford Bridge at the turn of the year when Chelsea’s interest in Duran was first documented, the Argentine has been replaced at the helm by Enzo Maresca since then. Amid all the speculation over Pochettino prior to his exit, the striker’s agent, Jonathan Herrera, opened up on his client’s future and stressed that there has always been interest from Chelsea regardless of the situation involving the former Tottenham boss.
“He is a player who has a contract with Aston Villa, he ended up doing very well and the coach is counting on him,” he told Colombian radio station Caracol (via Sport Witness). “It is a club that, having got into the Champions League is a great opportunity, but we know he wants to play, he wants to go out and play, we are going to see. Now the market is opening up, the club is looking at some options and so are we.”
Herrera added: “The interest has always been there. The fact that Pochettino continues or leaves the club [shouldn’t affect], the one who want him in the end is the club. He is a player that if they change coach or not, we will see what happens, but there has always been interest. Let’s see how we can handle it and make sure Aston Villa are ready.”
Very much hinting at a potential Villa Park exit so that he can go and play regularly, Duran could prove to be the answer as the Blues look to bring in a striker who can compete with Nicolas Jackson for a regular starting spot. Potentially a wildcard option for Chelsea when you consider the experience of Gyokeres, Osimhen and Solanke who have been linked with moves to SW6, Duran has given a glimpse of what he can offer in the Premier League and there is still plenty more to come from him.
The Colombian international is far from the finished article but the talent is very much there, thus handing Maresca an exciting opportunity to take the Aston Villa man to the very next level.