Under Unai Emery, Jhon Duran of Aston Villa has mostly been used at Villa Park as Ollie Watkins’ backup.
Jhon Duran, the striker for Aston Villa, is “one to watch,” but he might not be ready for the spotlight just yet. Chief sports writer Neil Moxley of Sunday People examines Duran’s role behind Ollie Watkins at Villa Park.
The Villans under Unai Emery have had a great start to the 2023–24 Premier League and Europa Conference League seasons, and they have a chance to advance to the Champions League the following season.
Since moving to the West Midlands in 2020, Watkins has established himself as Villa’s first-choice center forward, with Duran having to settle for meager opportunities to play. The backup center-forward anticipates seeing more action in 2024 if the Villans continue to advance on the continent.
At Aston Villa, Watkins and Duran are fighting for first choice.
In September 2020, Aston Villa broke their own transfer record when they signed Watkins from Brentford for a reported £33 million. After 132 games for the Bees, the 27-year-old had established himself as one of the top scorers in the Championship in west London, tallying 45 goals and dishing out 16 assists. At Villa Park, Watkins quickly established himself as Villa’s first-choice striker. He adjusted to life in the top flight with ease, finding the back of the net 15 times and contributing five assists in 37 Premier League games in the 2020–21 campaign.
In the meantime, Duran signed a £18 million contract to join Villa Park from Major League Soccer team Chicago Fire in January 2023. In just 24 appearances, spanning just 544 minutes of play, the eight-cap Colombian international has managed to score four goals for the reigning European Cup winners.
Moxley, Neil, on Jon Duran
In terms of his physicality, build, and ability, Moxley believes Duran is “one to watch” and that he is capable of scoring goals in the Premier League. The writer makes a suggestion that the South American needs just one serious injury to be “thrust into the limelight.” According to Moxley, GIVEMESPORT.
“Duran is still a work in progress. But in terms of his physique, skill set, and build, he’s someone to keep an eye on. Villa supporters witnessed his ability to score goals in the Premier League when he struck the game’s winning goal late on with an incredible left-footed effort against Crystal Palace in September. In other words, he has an excellent opportunity to learn from Watkins without having to bear the burden of proving himself. All it takes is one serious injury to put Duran in the spotlight and ask him to lead a top-six team in what is arguably the hardest football competition in the world. It seems that he will soon emerge from the background and take center stage. Is he prepared to accept that yet?
Update on Ollie Watkins’ backups at Aston Villa
Although Duran, 19, serves as Watkins’ backup in the Premier League and Europa Conference League, he may be concerned that he will be sent out on loan in the upcoming year. Transfer insider Dean Jones stated to GIVEMESPORT on December 2 that, should Watkins sustain a protracted injury, the Villans would need to consider signing a replacement. But adding another center-forward would imply that Duran isn’t ready to take over for the England international, which might undermine his confidence.
Aston Villa was reportedly planning a move for Athletic Bilbao striker Inaki Williams, according to a November Football Insider report. Emery isn’t concerned about the Ghana international’s age of 29, as he is looking for someone who can step in right away.
According to the same report, Duran may also be sent out on loan following an altercation at Villa’s Bodymoor Heath training facility with the Spanish head coach. The manager is rumored to have questioned his attitude, and the team is open to considering offers for his services during the winter transfer window of 2024.
Aston Villa’s forthcoming schedule
December 9th is Villa Park’s visit from Premier League leaders Arsenal, following the treble holders Manchester City on December 6th. The Villans are looking to exact revenge on Emery’s previous employers after losing to the eventual runners-up 4-2 at home due to a late own goal by Emiliano Martinez.
Villa will next travel to Zrinjski Mostar to wrap up their Europa Conference League campaign. A win there would guarantee Villa’s qualification as group winners and advance them to the competition’s last 16.
