Aston Villa have issued a firm hands-off warning to Arsenal regarding striker Jhon Duran, making it abundantly clear that they have no intention of parting ways with the Colombian forward during the forthcoming January transfer window. This statement comes in the wake of Arsenal's pressing need to enhance their attacking options, particularly following a significant knee injury to Gabriel Jesus, who is anticipated to be sidelined for an extended period due to a suspected anterior cruciate ligament issue.
Manager Mikel Arteta has acknowledged the urgency of the situation, stating, "We are actively looking to improve the squad. We have been doing that since day one. We would be naive to not do that." Arsenal's search for reinforcements includes potential signings such as Nico Williams from Athletic Bilbao and Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig. However, both pursuits present considerable challenges. Williams has a hefty £50 million release clause and is reportedly seeking £300,000 per week to leave the Basque club. Meanwhile, securing Sesko mid-season appears complicated given the player's current commitments.
Duran has been on Arsenal's radar for some time, with reports indicating that a £46 million bid was rejected by Villa last November. Since then, the 21-year-old has extended his contract, committing to Villa Park until 2030. Despite this, speculation surrounding his future has not diminished. Aston Villa reportedly received inquiries from around 40 clubs during the summer transfer window, and recently, West Ham had a £40 million offer for Duran turned down. Villa are believed to require a minimum bid of £60 million to even consider a sale, with The Athletic suggesting that the forward could be valued as high as £100 million. Although Duran has occasionally started on the bench, he has made a significant impact this season, scoring 12 goals in 26 appearances and earning praise from the club, particularly as manager Unai Emery favours Ollie Watkins in a one-striker formation.
In parallel, Aston Villa are expected to be active in the January transfer window. The club has already completed the sale of Jaden Philogene to Ipswich for £22 million, which is anticipated to facilitate the signing of Donyell Malen from Borussia Dortmund for an initial fee of £21 million, potentially rising to £27.7 million based on performance-related bonuses. Emery commented on the transfer activities, stating, "We are in the transfer window and trying to do some movements. One of those is the possibility of signing Donyell Malen. In case he signs for us, it's close; one player has to leave, and the player close to leaving is Jaden Philogene. We are alert and we always want to be ready to improve our squad. Some players want to leave us and different circumstances as well. If we are changing the players, Malen for Jaden is the first. Maybe the possibility of two or three players leaving and we can do another deal until the last days of the transfer window."
Malen, who previously spent time in Arsenal's academy before moving to PSV Eindhoven, has made a notable contribution this season, scoring five goals in 20 matches for Dortmund, including a recent goal in their 3-1 victory over Wolfsburg. His potential addition is expected to bolster Villa's attacking options as they navigate the challenges of the January transfer window, further solidifying the club's ambitions in the Premier League.