‘Jhon Duran had to leave Aston Villa after what I’ve been told’ – top source
Aston Villa’s striker dilemma is over following the £71million departure of Colombian sensation Jhon Duran to Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr.
Ollie Watkins is now set to get free reign up front for Unai Emery’s side, who also struck loan deals for Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio in the last days of the January window.
But the exit of Duran, 21, has been met with puzzlement in some quarters of the Aston Villa fanbase after his meteoric rise with the Midlands club since joining from Chicago Fire as a teenager.
Aston Villa’s former chief Keith Wyness, who served as CEO at Villa Park between 2016 and 2018 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs, has revealed why the forward’s exit was a “no-brainer”.
Jhon Duran’s Aston Villa exit is a ‘no-brainer’ as new details emerge from training ground
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness claimed Duran’s “temperament” issues were a big driving force behind the sale.
Football Insider first revealed in November 2023 that he was proving a “handful” for Emery and his coaching staff.
Meanwhile, Aston Villa have also struggled to comply with Premier League Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) – despite their recent success in the top flight.
Wyness claimed the big-money offer for Duran, who had scored 12 goals in 29 Villa appearances this term, was “too good to turn down”.
He told Football Insider‘s Insider Track podcast: “It’ll really help Villa with PSR, it’s a big deal.
“The profit made on him was just too good to turn down.
“There were question marks about his temperament with Emery, too. It seems pretty clear, this was a no-brainer.
“Making this profit on a player like that will give them some real leeway going forward.
“Villa needed the headroom, they’ve got it. They’ve taken a five million pound risk on Rashford, which isn’t that big if he can come good.”
Aston Villa could sell more stars this summer
Wyness has previously told Football Insider that Aston Villa could be forced into more sales this summer if they drop into the Europa League next season.
In addition to Duran, Jaden Philogene and Diego Carlos were also moved on to Ipswich and Fenerbahce respectively in the January window.
Aston Villa are into the last 16 of the Champions League but currently sit eighth in the Premier League table after 24 games.
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