West Ham remain interested in signing Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran ahead of the January transfer window, according to GiveMeSport.

A move for the Colombian international collapsed in the summer after the Hammers refused to meet the player’s £40m valuation.

Since then, though, Duran has been in outstanding form, racking up 7 goals in just 12 appearances for Villa.

With West Ham still keen on buying another forward, GiveMeSport claim that the 20-year-old has remained a “top target”.

Duran could now be beyond reach

The player’s excellent performances have already landed him a new contract, keeping him at Villa Park until 2030. On top of that, reports in his native Colombia have suggested that his asking price has now risen to €90m (£75m).

Combined with the fact that he is playing Champions League football with his current club, it is hard to see why Duran would be tempted by a move to the London Stadium.

He remains behind Ollie Watkins in the pecking order (the Colombian has only started two games in all competitions this campaign) so that could help their case, but there will still be competition from other clubs too.

Premier League rivals could join West Ham in the race for the striker

GiveMeSport report that Chelsea and Newcastle are also interested in Duran, while AS Colombia have suggested that Arsenal have now also entered the battle for his signature. Teams abroad such as AC Milan, Barcelona and others are keeping tabs on the forward as well.

With that being the case, the Irons’ chances of signing Duran look very low indeed, especially when you consider how much he could potentially cost. If the club do decide to strengthen their options up front in January, they may have to look elsewhere.

Find out who is in West Ham’s first-team squad for the 2024/2025 season here