Aston Villa could replace Duran with a “beast” £20m signing

Aston Villa have shown great ambition since V Sports took over the club in 2018, climbing into the top four of the Premier League after a slump in the Championship.

While it's true that Unai Emery's men will be out under the lights of the Champions League next season, the club's strong push for promotion over the past few years has put Villa Park on the wrong side of the line in terms of profit and sustainability rules, with Douglas Luiz blocking a transfer to Juventus as a result.

Given that Everton and Nottingham Forest were both stripped of points last season after separate financial breaches, it's no surprise that the Midlands side are moving quickly to fill the Premier League's financial department.

But with Luiz up for sale and a host of other players, including £30m-rated Matty Cash and talented young striker Jhon Duran linked with a move away, Emery and Co are hoping the hurdles may be cleared.

Speaking of Duran, the Colombian defender is attracting attention from Chelsea and it looks like he won't be there this summer, but if Villa play their cards right, they could bring in another potentially exciting player, who knows Villa Park well.

Villa have identified a new striker

Villa only signed Duran in January 2023, buying him from Colorado Rapids, but reports from Colombia suggest a deal has already been done which would see the 20-year-old move to Stamford Bridge for £42m.

If Duran is to be sold, it will put Villa in a much better position in terms of PSR, so it's no surprise that Monchi is already turning to replacing the talented Tammy Abraham.

According to The Telegraph, AS Roma are facing a financial crisis and are willing to sell Abraham this summer in order to comply with Serie A regulations.

Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United have been named alongside the Villans as suitors for the £20m Englishman.

Why Villa are interested in Tammy Abraham

Abraham spent most of the 2023/24 campaign with a knee injury, starting just two games in Italy's top flight, scoring one goal and providing one assist.

The 6 foot 3 colossus was a success story in the Italian capital during his first two seasons, joining Chelsea for £34m in 2021, scoring 36 goals and adding 12 assists in 107 games, contributing to the -Europa Conference League. 2021/22 campaign.

Once described as a “goal-scoring machine” by former coach Stephen Elliott, Abraham is imposing and powerful but also has a good frame and is deceptively good on the ball, with great footwork and creativity – having turned into something of a “beast” at Roma. Jose Mourinho, by his own admission.

Ollie Watkins may have been the sharpest striker at Villa Park in some time but Abraham managed to cut his teeth on loan at the club in 2018/19, scoring 26 times in 42 games – including four goals in 5-5 . draw with Nottingham Forest at Villa Park.

The loanee excelled in his central role in the final third giving Dean Smith's Villa a strong foothold, returning the club to the Premier League after a two-year absence.

He is a proven goalscorer and at the age of 27, Abraham can offer something different to the forwards and could be instrumental in enjoying success in Europe's top club competition.

Duran, although very talented, is unspecified and at £42m it may be a loss Emery can recover from.

How would Tammy Abraham fit in at Emery

Duran scored eight goals in 37 games in his first (and possibly only) full season in Villa garb, making five Premier League appearances despite starting just three games.

Regardless, his incredible goal off the bench against Liverpool in the campaign's penalty shoot-out salvaged a draw to help keep Tottenham Hotspur at bay. It was a vital, dynamic performance that helped Villa Park towards securing that fourth place spot.

The 6 foot 1 Duran's youthful style led to him being described as “a nightmare to play with” of Lions captain John McGinn, and indeed, his piercing, frenetic style on the pitch makes him a unique and devastating weapon.

While Abraham may not replicate the chaos that Duran brings to the pitch, he is a seasoned and experienced striker who has achieved multiple successes in Europe and a track record in the Premier League, scoring 21 goals and providing four assists in 56 games for Chelsea between 2019 and 2019. 2021.

In addition, he knows Villa Park very well and played a major role in building the foundation for the recent happy years of success. While Spurs and West Ham are both in need of top players, Emery will hope that the lure of the Champions League, an emotional return and, most importantly, a platform where he can perform will convince Abraham to make the move.

In theory, if Aston Villa play their cards right here they could sell Duran and bring in Abraham instead for a ballpark £20m profit.

It's not bad. Duran is an electric talent but if he wishes to play in west London then selling him and making such a purchase would again speak volumes for the brilliant and intelligent nature of Emery and his team.