Why Aston Villa are so desperate to sign the new Duran

If Aston Villa manage to qualify for the Champions League once again in the Premier League this season, they will have consolidated their position among England’s elite.

If Unai Emery does it again, his reputation as one of the finest managers worldwide will also only deepen, having won the Europa League last season and finished fourth in the Premier League, thus finding two routes into the Champions League.

What a remarkable rise. If the Villans manage to make further gains this season, it will be an astonishing feat. After all, Morgan Rogers has been sold to Chelsea in a record-breaking £117m deal, the Three Lions star having emerged as one of the most exciting attacking midfielders in Europe.

This wouldn’t be the first time Emery has demonstrated resilience in the transfer market. Just look at when Jhon Duran was taken from Villa Park.

Why Rogers sale could be a Duran repeat at Aston Villa

Duran, Duran. It’s certainly not an ordinary world for the mercurial Colombian forward, who, aged 22, is already a wandering nomad of a footballer, having played for seven different outfits.

His richest spell came at Villa Park, no doubt. Signed from Chicago Fire and grown into one of the most dangerous attackers in the Premier League, Duran’s prolific ability off the bench saw him score any number of times before fleeing to join Al-Nassr in January 2025, signing for the Saudi Arabian side in a deal worth £71m.

Villa adapted. Rogers’ emergence as a new attacking focal point to ease the pressure on Watkins was a big factor, but Emery’s finely-wrought system allows for changes, without rocking the boat too far.

Alejandro Garnacho has already been signed this summer as Rogers’ ostensible replacement on the left wing, but there should be more to come for the Villa persuasion, with Emery and NSWE actually looking to sign a Duran-esque attacker to pump more vim and vigour into this Villan frontline.

Aston Villa ready to bid again for the new Duran

Duran brought something special and unique to the table at Aston Villa, and with Rogers now having departed too, it’s clear that Emery wants more flair and X-factor across his frontline.

Aston Villa have already seen a £26m offer rejected for Palmeiras forward Allan this summer, but they are undeterred and prepared to bid again, even with the Brazilian outfit making it clear they have no desire to sell.

REUTERS/Sebastian Castaneda

That’s according to the latest update from ESPN Brazil, who have indeed confirmed that a second offer is forthcoming from Villa, who are determined to sign the right-sider as Leon Bailey edges toward a transfer to Hull City.

Praised for his “monster defensive output” by analyst Spencer Mossman, Allan certainly fits the mould of an Emery attacker, combative and hard-working. Physicality – or a lack thereof – can so often be the undoing for exciting young prospects looking to break onto the scene in England, but Allan shouldn’t have that problem, albeit with his creative levels still lower than they should be.

But he’s got so much potential, and the underlying data speaks highly of him indeed. In Brasileiro Serie A this year, he has averaged 2.2 dribbles and 5.9 duels per game, scoring only four goals across 18 games, but missing only two big chances.

There is clinical potential within this one, should he polish his shooting boots and learn to direct his explosiveness. In that, he could emerge as Emery’s new Duran, utilised as a clutch option from the bench before developing into a mainstay alongside the likes of Watkins and Garnacho.

For Duran, it was never natural talent that was the issue, but his application and his mercurial nature. His career at the highest level threatens to flake away, and Allan could learn from his fellow forward’s past mistakes in lifting himself into the ascendancy and staying there, should Villa succeed in their bid to bring him over to the Premier League this summer.