Aston Villa's Jhon Duran
In demand... Villa striker Jhon Duran
Aston Villa are said to have rejected a transfer offer for Jhon Duran from Napoli.
Napoli are said to be “crazy” about Duran amid suggestions the striker’s agent has held secret talks with the Italian club.
The 21-year-old Colombian only signed a new deal to keep him at Villa until 2030 two months ago, but it has not stopped speculation over his future. Napoli are one of the latest sides to be linked with the youngster, who has ripped it up in the Premier League and Champions League so far this season, scoring 12 goals in 25 matches.
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Italian journalist and Napoli expert Ciro Venerato has discussed Napoli’s interest in Duran on Televomero’s Terzo Tempo Calcio Napoli, saying the club’s owner Aurelio De Laurentiis, director Giovanni Manna and manager Antonio Conte are all “crazy” about the player.
“There is a player that De Laurentiis, Manna and Conte are crazy about, he is Jhon Durán from Aston Villa, he costs €40m,” he said. “Napoli have already had two talks with the player’s agent and will soon have a conference with the English club shortly.
“He is a profile that has been evaluated and already promoted by the whole of Calcio Napoli.”
“We need to understand the availability of Aston Villa and the agreement on the evaluation,” he added. “We also need to understand if Napoli, in order to beat the competition, can take him as early as January and leave him in England until June or whether to make an operation that contemplates the summer market.”
Il Mattino now report Napoli made an opening offer of €35m which was turned down by Villa, adding that the Italian club are readying a second offer of €40m. It is claimed Napoli plan to use cash from selling Victor Osimhen, possibly to Manchester United or Paris Saint-Germain, to try to prise Duran away from Villa Park.
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