Aston Villa warned that fifth best striker in Europe could join West Ham as Jhon Duran talks continue

If Aston Villa want to raise some vital transfer funds then they had better get a deal done with West Ham for Jhon Duran as soon as possible.

West Ham and Aston Villa are said to be locked in talks over a deal for the wantaway striker.

The top spokesman inside the club has told Hammers News West Ham won’t pay Villa’s original £35-40m asking price for Duran.

West Ham revealed Villa’s frustrated 20-year-old Colombian star is ‘one of many’ forwards technical they are in for.

But it’s become increasingly clear the Villa man is West Ham’s top target.

West Ham’s refusal to meet Villa’s demands sparked hope a compromise could be reached when transfer reporter Graeme Bailey shared a fresh update.

He said there had been a breakthrough after Duran and Villa came to an agreement to help sell him with West Ham still ‘very interested’.

Bailey claimed Aston Villa were now willing to negotiate a lower fee with significant add-ons.

Then Napoli made an approach to Villa for Duran only to be told he’s joining the Hammers for £31m.

A new report from The Times says West Ham are inching ever closer to signing Duran, who has been frustrated by a lack of game time under Unai Emery at Villa Park.

It has been claimed Villa are open to selling Duran to West Ham so they can raise funds to sign Joao Felix.