‘Not For The Prices Quoted, It Aint Happening’ ‘Mid Striker’ Arsenal Fans React As Romano Confirms £80M Transfer Enquiry

Arsenal have made a tentative enquiry for Aston Villa forward Jhon Duran “in recent weeks”, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano said that Duran has been considered as a potential alternative to other striker targets:


“What I’m told is also Arsenal made a call in recent weeks to understand the situation of Jhon Duran because [Benjamin] Sesko, at the moment, no green light from Leipzig. Also, Alexander Isak, the dream target of Arsenal, super expensive, very complicated, impossible is nothing in football, but very complicated. So in the recent weeks, Arsenal also called to understand the situation of Jhon Duran, but no bid, no direct negotiations with Aston Villa.”

With suggestions that the Gunners will make a move for a forward before the transfer window closes, fans on X have been discussing whether the club should be pursuing Duran:

Duran’s price tag is steep

Although Aston Villa are said to be willing to offload the Colombian international this month, he won’t be sold on the cheap.

A £57m bid from West Ham was turned down last week, with the Villans said to be demanding around £80m.

Arsenal have two alternatives that would cost the same amount

For a similar fee, Mikel Arteta’s side could bring in either Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres or Napoli’s Victor Osimhen. The two strikers have release clauses worth €100m (£84m) and €75m (£63m) respectively.

With that in mind, it would be a surprise if the club did decide to pursue Duran ahead of next week’s transfer deadline.

Find out who is in Arsenal’s first-team squad for the 2024/2025 season here

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David Tully

David Tully

David has worked as a football reporter for the last fifteen years. Having started as an intern at Snack Media, he then went on to become a freelancer, working on various different sites. At the start of 2023, he took up his current role as content writer for National World's Football News Network.