Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has spoken on Jhon Duran and has left the door open for him to reintegrate back into the squad despite speculation over his future this summer.
The 20-year-old has yet to report back for pre-season training after his participation in the Copa America with Colombia earlier this summer, but along with Emiliano Martinez, Ezri Konsa and Ollie Watkins, he is expected to rejoin the squad in the coming days to start preparing for the new campaign.
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However, major doubts have emerged over his future at Villa given not only his bit-part role behind Watkins last season, but also due to his antics off-the-pitch over the last month or so where he has angered Villa fans with his social media activity and comments in the media.
Not only has Duran made a gesture to seemingly show his desire to secure a switch to West Ham Utd, but he spoke to the media in Colombia and welcomed the interest being shown in him while noting that he hoped it would turn into something concrete.
The expectation had been that Villa would ultimately offload him despite struggling to agree on terms with West Ham, but based on Emery’s comments below, it sounds as though Duran will be part of his pre-season plans as of next week, and so it remains to be seen if that eventually leads to him playing a key role for us moving forward, or if he will indeed end up going elsewhere before the transfer window closes.
“He is coming next week after he played in the final for Colombia against Argentina and he has big potential,” Emery said in his post-match press conference. “I was always being close to him, helping his adaptation in Europe, in the Premier League.
“Now he is coming again next week and I will work again with him like last year, trying to get progressively better with him.
“Of course, his potential, he can exploit, but we will work in the future like the process we are doing with him being very demanding.”
Emery has never wavered from that position and opinion on Duran, as he has consistently reiterated that he must continue to help with his adaptation and will work with the Colombian international to fulfil his potential.
If that belief and faith was repaid with the right attitude, professionalism and impact on the pitch, there wouldn’t be an issue, but there is concern over how Duran’s antics will effect his ability to be a positive influence and how his teammates will react to what they would undoubtedly have seen in recent weeks.
It’s a fine balancing act for Emery to deal with, and despite his comments, time will tell if Villa continue to show faith in Duran or not. Ultimately though, if West Ham or any other club don’t return with an improved offer to satisfy our demands, we may well have no choice but to utilise Duran, and try and get him focused on being a success with us rather than looking for a move elsewhere.