Exclusive: Jhon Duran in new Aston Villa fall-out
Jhon Duran is causing a “headache” for manager Unai Emery and his Aston Villa coaching staff just weeks after signing a lucrative new contract, sources have told Football Insider.
Sources say Duran, 20, is “angry and upset” that he has made just one start out of a possible 15 in the Champions League and Premier League so far this season.
The Colombia international has let it be known to Emery, Villa staff and teammates that he believes he should be starting more regularly rather than be used almost exclusively as an impact sub.
Ollie Watkins remains the club’s main striker and occasional attempts to pair the two forwards have failed this term.
Villa rewarded Duran with a new contract last month, as first revealed by Football Insider on 7 October.
His new deal at the Midlands club runs until June 2030, but his performances have subsequently nosedived.
Duran has had issues with his timekeeping during his Villa career, and sources first told Football Insider in November of last year that he’s a “handful” behind the scenes.
Duran causing new problems at Aston Villa after penning lucrative deal
The Colombia international has made 17 appearances across all competitions for Emery’s side this season, scoring eight goals amid an outstanding goals-per-minute ratio.
Among those strikes was a famous winner in the Champions League against Bayern Munich, having come off the bench just minutes earlier.
However, the other side of Duran has also come to the fore, most notably during the 23rd October clash against Bologna when he responded angrily to his substitution by punching his seat in the dugout before kicking the one in front of him.
Duran was the subject of interest from West Ham and Chelsea in the summer window but remained a Villa player past the September transfer deadline.
Emery’s side sit ninth in the Premier League this term with 18 points from a possible 33 in the top flight.
They sit eighth in the Champions League table with three wins from four in Europe.
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