Arsenal have reportedly had a surprising £45 million bid rejected for a Premier League forward, according to sources.
With Eddie Nketiah’s summer departure to Crystal Palace, Arsenal have lacked a traditional centre-forward, with Kai Havertz frequently filling the central role in Mikel Arteta’s starting lineup. However, it’s become clear that Arsenal need a more prolific goal-scorer to help them in their pursuit of the Premier League title, especially after finishing second for two consecutive seasons.
In an unexpected move, Arsenal have made a bid for one of the Premier League’s rising stars, Aston Villa’s Jhon Duran. The 20-year-old Colombian has impressed with eight goals for Villa across all competitions and has become a key substitute who delivers in crucial moments, including scoring the winning goal in Villa’s Champions League victory over Bayern Munich.
Duran, who joined Villa from Chicago Fire, was also linked with a move to West Ham during the summer but stayed at Villa Park. The club values him highly and recently extended his contract until 2030. Despite their reluctance to sell, Villa reportedly set an asking price of £70 million, rejecting Arsenal’s £45 million offer.
Since his £14.75 million move from MLS, Duran has scored 16 goals in 65 appearances for Villa. His form has attracted attention from top European clubs, including Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, further boosting his reputation.
Despite Villa’s recent dip in form, with three consecutive defeats, there are concerns about how Duran and Ollie Watkins fit together as a strike partnership. Villa manager Unai Emery acknowledged the challenge but remains focused on integrating both players into his lineup, saying, “We’re in the process of building a team and creating a solid structure. The combination of those two strikers is something we need to work through.”
Villa will return to action on Saturday evening when they face Premier League leaders Liverpool at Anfield.
