European Club Targets £30m+ Aston Villa Star Despite NSWE’s Reluctance to Sell

According to recent reports, a prominent European club is showing strong interest in acquiring a highly-rated Aston Villa player. However, the club’s owners, NSWE, are not keen on parting ways with the talented asset.

Aston Villa has enjoyed a strong start to the 2024/25 Premier League season under Unai Emery’s leadership. Despite some recent inconsistency, the team remains in contention for top honors. The January transfer window presents an opportunity for Villa to strengthen their squad as they push for success.

While Villa has been linked with several potential defensive reinforcements, including Benfica’s Antonio Silva and Real Madrid’s Raul Asencio, it’s their young striker who’s drawing attention from abroad.

Italian giants Napoli have reportedly set their sights on Jhon Duran, the 21-year-old Colombian forward who joined Villa from Chicago Fire in January 2023. Duran has steadily improved since his arrival, becoming an important part of Emery’s squad and scoring crucial goals, including a memorable winner against Bayern Munich.

This season, Duran has found the net 11 times in 24 appearances across all competitions. His physicality and speed have impressed Napoli’s scouts, with the Italian club viewing him as a potential partner for Romelu Lukaku in their attack.

Napoli’s sporting director, Giovanni Manna, has reportedly placed Duran at the top of his wishlist. While initial contact has been made with intermediaries, Aston Villa are not interested in selling their promising striker. It’s believed that any potential transfer would require a fee of around €40 million (£33 million).

At this stage, it remains unclear whether Napoli’s interest is for an immediate January move or a potential summer transfer. Regardless, Aston Villa and NSWE appear determined to retain Duran’s services as they continue their push for success in both domestic and European competitions.