West Ham have decided against signing long-term transfer target Jhon Duran after learning about the “eyewatering” costs of securing his services on loan, according to reports.

Speaking to Hammers News, journalist Graeme Bailey said that the Irons were among the teams given the chance to snap up the Colombian international, but the numbers involved were simply too high:

“A host of clubs were offered Duran last week after it emerged he was looking to move and also that Al-Nassr and the Saudi Pro League would sanction a loan.”

“West Ham were told the figures, but I believe they were eye-watering – Duran’s wages and loan fee just made it impossible for West Ham to consider. They like the player a lot and were quite close to him before, but it just wasn’t meant to be at those figures.”

Duran has only spent six months in Saudi Arabia

West Ham, Chelsea and others tried to lure the 21-year-old away from Aston Villa last summer. He ended up staying with the Midlands club and signing a new contract only to then leave midseason anyway.

Saudi Pro League Al-Nassr bought Duran for £64m plus add-ons at the end of the January transfer window but the player has not managed to settle in the Middle East and he is hoping to return to Europe as soon as possible.

West Ham cannot afford his wages

As Bailey mentions, one of the main stumbling blocks for Graham Potter’s side would have been Duran’s salary. He is said to be earning in excess of £300,000 a week in Saudi Arabia.

That means he takes home around double that of West Ham’s two top earners, captain Jarrod Bowen and Lucas Paqueta. Along with the other fees required, it is not a surprise that the move was deemed not viable financially.

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