Among the many big decisions facing Unai Emery this summer, is whether or not to stick with Aston Villa forward Jhon Duran heading into next season.
The 20-year-old’s adaptation has been gradual but required patience, and although there has been development and improvement, question marks still seem to linger.
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Duran scored eight goals in 37 appearances across all competitions this past season, as although he was restricted behind Ollie Watkins, he was a crucial option for Emery when either rotating or looking for a different dynamic in the final third.
Particularly with a lack of alternative options, Duran had a big opportunity over the last nine months or so to cement himself in the Villa squad and in Emery’s plans moving forward, but that doesn’t seem to have necessarily happened.
Nevertheless, Emery’s belief and insistence has been unwavering, as he evidently knows that there is a real talent on his hands, but the task of unlocking that potential on a consistent basis has remained a challenging one for him.
“I believe in Jhon Duran,” Emery told the media earlier this month, as per BirminghamLive. “When we signed him, his process is being how we can make a plan. He is 20 years old and he was 19 years old when he arrived here. He’s progressively getting better. He’s adapting. Even this year.
“He started with an injury. He started playing in August or September, he didn’t have a pre-season. He was getting better and now he is in his best moment now. His adaptation wasn’t easy. Last year or this year.
“Now I think he’s showing his capacity as well, particularly in the last match [Liverpool]. He’s here because we wanted him and we want to keep him as well. We are thinking he can improve us, stay here and grow up with us. But, of course, always we have to be ready in case there’s something we have to do in the transfer window with every player – even him – but at the moment, I’m happy with him.
“I speak to him a lot, individually and collectively about him, even with his agent because his agent helps with him as well. His potential is great, but he needs a plan and I am trying to do it.
“His numbers are more or less good, scoring some goals, some penalties as well through him we got. If we can analyse the minutes he played when he was competitive, I think he was helping us.”
As noted above, Duran has had an important role to play not only as an alternative option to Watkins when he needed a rest, but also to play alongside him at times or change games in the latter stages.
The Colombian international offers something different up top with his physicality, aerial threat and general presence, and there is a sense that he is capable of producing something out of nothing to create decisive moments in games.
However, to become an integral piece in Emery’s team, there is so much more to it. Has Duran managed to integrate and understand the structure of this Villa XI and how the Spanish tactician wants us to set up and control games? Has he embraced his defensive duties fully and the tactical, positioning demands, and has he adapted and learned the nuances and key components of what it takes to lead the line in this side?
These are all points that perhaps explain his limited minutes this past season and perhaps why Emery hinted that the club will be open to all possibilities this summer, and then there’s also the aspect of his personality and character, with Villa skipper John McGinn perhaps offering the most intriguing insight of all in his post-match interview after our draw with Liverpool.
“Big Jhon…he’s a bit nuts,” he told the media. “He’s a nightmare sometimes to have in your team. But he has moments of quality, we need to try and keep his feet on the ground the next couple of days.
“Jhon doesn’t have a scooby who they [Duran Duran] are. He does not have a clue. I mean Jhon I don’t even think he knows he’s actually in the city of Birmingham never mind who Duran Duran are. But, he’s such a raw player, some days you think what a good boy, some days you think come on big man have a bit more respect. But he has everything to be one of the top strikers in the world and hopefully he can do that here.”
Duran’s agent did little to quieten the speculation this week, as although he acknowledged that his client has an exciting opportunity at Villa, he insisted that he wants to play more and refused to rule out the possibility of an exit this summer amid ongoing speculation of interest from Chelsea.
There is no denying that there is something endearing about Duran and his maverick nature, which earned him the tag of being an ‘agent of chaos’ from Villa fans this past season.
He has proven that he can make a positive impact when called upon, and at 20 years of age, he has so much more maturing and improvement still to come which could see him flourish into an elite player.
That in turn makes a strong argument in favour of Emery continuing to work with him and trying to help him reach his peak level, but ultimately the Villa boss will know better than anyone if it’s the right fit for us, and he’ll make a change if necessary this summer that will suit us in the long run, or perhaps even a loan move would be a compromise that suits all concerned?
