BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 30: Jacob Ramsey of Aston Villa celebrates teammates after scoring the team's fifth goal during the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Brighton & Hove Albion at Villa Park on September 30, 2023 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)
The ‘raw’ 20-year-old of Aston Villa now has six months to make a significant decision.
Jhon Duran, the striker, has a contract that expires in June, therefore Aston Villa must make a major decision on his future.
Jhon Duran has been forced to take a backseat to Ollie Watkins after being acquired from Chicago Fire for £18 million in January of last year.
He hasn’t started a game in the Premier League this season, although he has made 14 substitute appearances, scoring in wins over Crystal Palace and Everton.
Due to Duran’s limited playing time, other teams are becoming interested. According to Mail Sport, divisional rivals Chelsea and West Ham made attempts to approach Villa, but AC Milan was the first to stiffen their necks before that.
The approach was for a loan with a buyout option, but it looks like Unai Emery could keep the towering Colombian at the team after turning down offers from other teams.
Duran has a crucial six months that could make or ruin his Villa career, assuming he stays at Villa Park.
Aston Villa vs. Everton FC in Premier League
Jhon Duran needs to perform well for Aston Villa.
Although Watkins’s impressive play has essentially kept Duran out of Emery’s immediate plans, the young player hasn’t yet taken a chance in claret and blue.
It has been suggested that his chances of playing more have been limited by off-field matters. The 20-year-old is believed to be upset with choices to substitute him at different moments throughout Villa’s European campaign. The head coach and his player have not always agreed.
Additionally, he stated that playing somewhere else is his “dream,” which infuriated Villa supporters.
The young striker needs to start making an impression on his manager on the field in order to put his past misbehavior behind him and gain back his favor.
Though it’s fair to say he’s struggled to take his chances, Duran has been afforded a reasonable amount of play in other competitions, despite what his top-flight minutes suggest.
After playing poorly in both the 2-1 Carabao Cup loss to Everton and the 1-0 Europa Conference League triumph against Zrinjski Mostar, he was replaced at halftime on both occasions.
Duran has had six starts in the Premier League, mostly against weaker teams, but he has not managed to score and has not given Emery any grounds to start him over Watkins.
Is Duran deserving of a new deal from Aston Villa?
Journalist Josh Bunting called Duran a “raw” talent, but he does have skills in his game that should earn him a new contract.
In addition to being as powerful as an ox, he also excels at holding up the ball, pressing, and having a terrifying pace that can leave opponents in a daze.
He’s been underwhelming this season, but he still has plenty of time to reach his full potential, and Villa are open to offers for him.
He is a 20-year-old center striker who is still learning his craft, so watching Watkins score goals while he was on the sidelines must have been difficult for him.
Although Duran hasn’t yet done enough to warrant a new contract, he will have many chances to prove himself a hero as the Villans fight on all fronts in the second half of the season.
