Arsenal are weighing up a bid for Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran when the transfer window reopens in the New Year, according to AS Colombia.
The publication names the Gunners and Barcelona as the two “big teams” who have enquired about the player’s availability.
However, Villa have only recently tied down Duran to a new contract, keeping him with the Midlands club until the summer of 2030.
AS Colombia claim that the Villans have done that to protect the forward’s value and they won’t accept a few below €90m (£75m) now.
Duran has other suitors in the Premier League
Chelsea and West Ham approached Villa about signing the Colombian international over the summer but both clubs were reportedly put off by the player’s asking price.
At the time, it was claimed that Duran was available for between £40m and £50m, but his performances this season mean that he is worth even more now.
The striker has scored 6 goals in 11 appearances, having only started one match in all competitions for Villa.
Would Arsenal spend that much on a new No.9?
Many fans feel that a top striker is the only thing stopping the Gunners from winning the Premier League title. Gabriel Jesus has had his issues with form and injuries, while Kai Havertz was actually brought to the club as a midfielder before being deployed up front.
It’s clear that manager Mikel Arteta would like to sign another forward. They were interested in buying RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko back in June, only for the player to sign a new deal with his current team instead.
For that reason, it wouldn’t be surprising if there was genuine interest in Duran but it is debatable whether they would be prepared to pay such a big fee for him in January.
Find out who is in Arsenal’s first-team squad for the 2024/2025 season here