Villa chiefs: Unai Emery's belief in Jhon Duran key to window decisions
Villa rejected deadline day approaches for Jhon Duran with boss Unai Emery convinced he can turn the striker into one of the world’s best.
The Colombia international’s future was in question for the entire summer and it is understood the club were even receiving calls asking about his availability during the final hours of the window.
But Duran remained at Villa Park, in large part due to Emery’s belief in his vast potential.
To this point he has repaid the manager’s faith by coming off the bench to score match-winning goals in two of the opening three Premier League matches, including against West Ham, the club who pursued him most intently.
Villa’s president of football operations, Monchi, explained: “Unai is very confident with Jhon Duran. Very confident.
“He thinks in the next year he can become one of the best strikers in the world. He is 100 per cent convinced.”
Villa rejected several bids from the Hammers, with Duran then angering supporters by performing the London club’s “crossed irons” gesture on social media as he pressed for a move.
Monchi and Damian Vidagany, the club’s director of football operations, confirmed the 20-year-old had become frustrated with a lack of playing time last season, his first full campaign in English football following an £18million move from Chicago Fire in January, 2023.
But they believe Duran is now in a much more positive frame of mind having been given extended minutes off the bench over the opening month, while first-choice striker Ollie Watkins regains full fitness. Duran signed off before the international break by netting the crucial goal in a 2-1 win at Leicester.
“We also have Watkins and Duran wants to play. He thinks he is better than Watkins,” said Monchi.
“That is normal because every player thinks he is better than their team-mates. To manage Ollie Watkins and Duran is not easy but at the end it is the best for the team if you have two big strikers it is better than only one.
“Did Duran want to leave the club? Yes. That is normal because he wants to play. But now we spoke with him and he is happy. He is training good.”
Vidagany added: “If there is a club that really thinks Duran can become one of the top strikers in the world - then that one club is Aston Villa and that one manager is Unai Emery.
“He is finding that Unai is giving him more minutes.”
“It is difficult because in a football team there are two very, very important positions.
“Every position is important but the goalkeeper and the striker are two very specific positions.
“If you have a great goalkeeper the second goalkeeper can be as good as he can be but it is very difficult to change the goalkeeper.
“If you have Ollie Watkins it is very difficult to find someone better because he is a great striker, maybe in the top two or three of the EPL. Ollie is a top professional and high quakity striker.”