Aston Villa in Intense Negotiations with Napoli over £80m-rated Striker

Aston Villa are reportedly in ongoing discussions with Italian club Napoli regarding one of their key players. After a recent run of success, including four wins in their last five matches across all competitions, Villa appear to have regained their top form under manager Unai Emery.

The team’s latest victory came against struggling Manchester City in the Premier League, with Jhon Duran and Morgan Rogers scoring in an impressive 2-1 win. Emery praised the team’s performance, calling it a “fantastic” and “great day” for both the squad and individual players.

Duran, Villa’s Colombian striker, has attracted significant interest from clubs across Europe due to his outstanding performances this season. Valued at £80 million by Villa, the 21-year-old has scored 12 goals in all competitions, including three in the Champions League.

While Barcelona, Chelsea, and Manchester United have shown interest, Napoli appears to be leading the race for Duran’s signature. According to reports, Napoli has already had a £29 million offer rejected but is preparing an improved bid of £33 million.

The Italian club is engaged in “frenetic” phone calls with Villa’s ownership group NSWE regarding the young striker, whom they view as a potential replacement for Victor Osimhen. However, Napoli’s valuation remains far below Villa’s asking price.

Osimhen, who nearly joined Chelsea last summer, is expected to leave Napoli at the end of the season, with Chelsea reportedly maintaining interest in signing him. Former Chelsea midfielder John Obi-Mikel previously stated that Osimhen “wanted” to move to Stamford Bridge during the summer transfer window.

As negotiations continue, it remains to be seen whether Napoli can meet Villa’s valuation for Duran or if other interested clubs will enter the bidding war for the highly-rated Colombian forward.