Arsenal have reportedly had a surprising £45 million offer turned down for a Premier League forward, according to sources.
Following the departure of Eddie Nketiah to Crystal Palace in the summer, the Gunners lack a traditional centre-forward, with Kai Havertz often occupying the central role in Mikel Arteta’s regular lineup.
However, it’s become evident that Arsenal are in need of a more prolific goalscorer, and this could play a crucial role in their pursuit of the Premier League title after finishing second for two consecutive seasons.
According to unexpected reports, Arsenal have made an approach for one of the most promising strikers in the Premier League. Colombian media outlet Antena 2 claims that Arsenal have submitted a bid for Aston Villa’s Jhon Duran.
At just 20 years old, Duran has netted eight goals for Villa across all competitions and has established himself as a valuable substitute who steps up in key moments. He scored the decisive goal in Villa’s Champions League victory over Bayern Munich, and his reputation continues to grow.
Duran, who joined Villa from Chicago Fire, was linked with a move to West Ham in the summer but remained at Villa Park. The club holds him in high regard and has reportedly rejected Arsenal’s offer. Villa recently secured his services with a new contract extending until 2030, and despite having no intention of selling him, they have set an asking price of £70 million.
Since arriving from MLS for £14.75 million, Duran has scored 16 goals in 65 appearances in all competitions. His form has also attracted interest from top European clubs, including Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, a testament to his rising profile.
Though Villa has had a difficult run of form with three consecutive defeats, there are concerns that Duran and Ollie Watkins may not complement each other as a strike partnership. Nonetheless, Villa manager Unai Emery continues to search for ways to integrate both players into the starting lineup.
After Villa’s loss to Spurs, Emery discussed his approach: “I have to try to give minutes to those players on the field and figure out how we can improve with them. We’re in the process of building a team and focusing on creating a solid structure. The combination of those two strikers is a challenge we need to work through to boost their confidence.”
Villa will return to action on Saturday evening when they face Premier League leaders Liverpool at Anfield.