Aston Villa slap massive price tag on Champions League hero Jhon Duran amid renewed interest from Chelsea

Duran has been in exceptional form this season, with his stock continuing to rise with each passing game. The 20-year-old Colombian forward delivered a stunning display on Wednesday, scoring the only goal in a 1-0 victory over the Bavarians in the Champions League, which has attracted further attention from top clubs, including the London outfit.

According to TEAMtalk, Villa have set Duran’s transfer fee at a minimum of £80 million ($105m), a figure that could rise to £100 million ($131m) if his performances continue to improve. Unai Emery is reluctant to let the forward leave and the club had already resisted several offers for the Colombian.

Over the summer, Chelsea held discussions with Aston Villa over a potential deal, but those talks ultimately stalled as the Blues shifted their focus towards signing Napoli’s Victor Osimhen. West Ham also showed interest in the forward, with negotiations reportedly progressing to the point where Duran believed he was on the verge of joining the London club.

Despite the interest from Premier League rivals, Villa were able to retain Duran, thanks in part to the long-term contract he signed with the club, which runs until 2028. This gives Villa a strong hand in any future negotiations, as they are under no pressure to sell the player.

Remarkably, Duran boasts a superior goal-to-minute ratio compared to Manchester City’s Erling Haaland and has already found the back of the net four times despite having played only 28 per cent of Aston Villa’s available minutes in the Premier League.

As the January transfer window approaches, speculation about Duran’s future is bound to intensify. According to insiders, a January move is not out of the question, though any club hoping to sign the Colombian international will need to meet Villa’s considerable asking price. For now, Duran remains a vital part of Unai Emery’s plans and will be back in action against Manchester United on Sunday in the Premier League.