Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran was eager to leave the club this past summer, with interest from “no fewer than 40 clubs,” according to two recruitment chiefs at Villa Park. The 20-year-old Colombian international, who has been playing second fiddle to Villa’s star striker Ollie Watkins, has expressed frustration over limited playing time since joining from Chicago Fire for around £15 million in January 2023.

Despite being primarily used as a substitute, Duran has made notable contributions for manager Unai Emery. He scored four of his five Premier League goals last season as a substitute and has already netted twice in three substitute appearances this season, including a match-winner against West Ham United and a crucial header in a win over Leicester City.

During the summer, Duran was heavily linked with a move to both Chelsea and West Ham, but an exit from Aston Villa failed to materialize. Villa’s director of football operations, Damian Vidagany, has since revealed that Duran was eager to leave the club in search of more first-team football and was wanted by “no fewer than 40 clubs.”

“In every team there are two very, very important positions. Every position is important, of course, but the keeper and the striker are two very specific positions,” Vidagany explained in an interview via The Mirror. “If you have a great keeper, the second keeper can be as good as he can be – but it’s difficult to change. If you have Ollie Watkins, it’s very difficult to find someone better because he is a great striker, maybe in the top two or three in the Premier League.”

Vidagany continued: “Ollie is a top professional and high-quality striker. So, did Duran want to leave the club? Yes. That’s normal because he wants to play. There were no fewer than 40 clubs who wanted Duran – because everyone wanted him. Jhon Duran is a 20-year-old boy and he knows what we know – that he has huge potential. He can be one of the best strikers in the world…period. Unai is giving him more minutes. And we have spoken to him. He’s training well – and he’s happy.”

Villa’s president of football operations, Monchi, also added his thoughts: “Unai is very confident with Jhon Duran. Very confident. He thinks he can become one of the best strikers in the world in the next 12 months. He is 100% convinced.”

However, Monchi acknowledged the challenges of balancing the ambitions of both Watkins and Duran. “So, what is the problem? We also have Ollie Watkins and Duran wants to play. He thinks he is better than Watkins. That is normal because every player thinks he is better than their teammates. To manage Watkins and Duran is not easy, but at the end it is the best for the team. If you have two big strikers it is better than only one.”

Duran, who still has four years left on his contract, will be looking to force his way into Aston Villa’s starting lineup for the first time this season when they welcome Premier League basement club Everton to Villa Park on Saturday. Chelsea’s interest in the highly-rated young striker might not be over yet, especially if he continues to impress as the season progresses.