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A new report from Italy claims Napoli have make move to sign a striker only to be told he’s joining West Ham for £31m.
West Ham are pushing to sign a new striker but it’s proving far from easy so far.
The list of confirmed and reported Hammers targets is long and varied.
But one name at the top of particular West Ham list is Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran.
The problem is the top source inside the club told Hammers News last week that West Ham will not pay Villa’s £35m asking price for the 20-year-old Colombian.
Duran has become frustrated at his lack of game time at Villa with Ollie Watkins being Unai Emery’s top dog.
His impatience has angered many Villa fans and Emery, who rates Duran highly.
Save a prayer for West Ham’s Duran hopes
Since revealing they would not bow to Villa’s £35m valuation, West Ham have been linked with a number of other forwards.
But transfer reporter Graeme Bailey claimed this week that Duran and Villa have come to an agreement to help sell him with West Ham still ‘very interested’.
He reported that Aston Villa were now willing to negotiate with West Ham over a lower fee and significant add-ons.
It seems those claims could be well founded too after a revelation from Italy.
Because Napoli have made a move to sign the striker only to be told he’s joining West Ham for £31m.
According to Area Napoli journalist Gianluca Vitale, Duran is ‘arriving at West Ham from Villa for 37 million Euros (£31m).
That’s £4m less than the original asking price the Hammers were quoted.
Napoli move for striker only to be told he’s joining West Ham
The Italian site claim Napoli had been monitoring Duran for some time and made an approach only to be told he is close to moving to West Ham.
“According to what has been learned by AreaNapoli.it, the operation should go through for around 37 million (£31m),” the report states.
“Considered a player with great potential, Duran had previously been sought by Chelsea, but in the end the other London club would have won, who will be able to enjoy his performances from the 2024/2025 Premier League season.”
Vitale describes the allegedly imminent transfer as an important move for the Hammers, who have bet on him for the present and the future.
‘Lopetegui will have reason to be happy’
“Mister Julen Lopetegui will have reason to be happy, with such a promising boy under his command in the next championship,” the report adds.
The claims of a breakthrough come after West Ham issued a transfer update when asked directly about Duan yesterday.
The Hammers confirmed there is ‘lots happening’ at the moment.
But it was also made clear at the time that ‘nothing is close’.
Whether that has now changed remains to be seen.
Many West Ham fans have been excited at the prospect of signing Duran.
It is felt he is exactly the type of player the club should be targeting in terms of ability, attributes, age and profile.
Especially compared to some of the other targets being linked of late such as injury-prone duo Callum Wilson and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Supporters have been far from impressed by links to those two forwards.
A reported bid for Palace flop Alexander Sorloth did little to alter that mood either.
But now it seems there may be some positive news about Duran on the horizon if this report from Italy proves accurate.
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