Sources: Jhon Duran offered to Premier League clubs after Tottenham claim
Jhon Duran was offered to Premier League clubs in the January transfer window as he eyed a return to English football just one year after leaving Aston Villa.
The 22-year-old made the move to Al Nassr last January, but has since spent six months at Fenerbahce, and completed a loan move to Zenit earlier this month.
Duran‘s availability saw a number of Premier League clubs including Tottenham linked with moves for the hot-headed striker, but sources say none showed any advanced interest.
As I revealed on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Transfer Insider podcast, any speculation about Spurs or English clubs came from the player’s representatives.
Villa let Duran leave last year due to concerns about his attitude, despite his clear talent and impressive on-pitch performances, and others are believed to share their doubts.
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Premier League clubs snub Jhon Duran after agent talks
After making the move to join Cristiano Ronaldo in the Saudi Pro League, Duran scored 12 goals in 18 appearances for Al-Nassr, but was quickly moved on.
He then scored just give goals in 21 appearances for Fenerbahce, who also agreed to cut his loan short, as the striker attempted to find a move elsewhere.
After missing out on his ambitions of a return to the Premier League, he made the move to Zenit, but he will likely be linked with English clubs again upon the move’s expiry.
Speaking on the Transfer Insider podcast, I explained: “Yeah, as you said, was only last January that he went to Al Nasser from Aston Villa as well.
“He’s been in America. He’s come to Aston Villa. Then he’s gone to Saudi Pro League with Al Nassr. He’s gone to Fenerbahce for a short spell. Now he’s ended up in Russia with Zenit St. Petersburg.
“I don’t think there was that much potential for him to return to the Premier League in January.
“There was a few suggestions that he’d been offered around to clubs, rather than clubs pursuing him. I think that was more the case there.
“I don’t think there’s any immediate move maybe back to the Premier League for John Duran and maybe he will end up elsewhere.”
What went wrong for Duran at Aston Villa?
Before his move to the Saudi Pro League, Duran was linked with the likes of Chelsea and Real Madrid after Aston Villa made clear he would be available.
Despite his departure leaving Emery with just one natural senior striker, Ollie Watkins, in his squad at the time, the decision was made to let him go.
This came after Football Insider revealed Duran was causing issues for Emery behind the scenes with complaints about his playing time and role in the squad.
Those issues don’t seem to have been addressed since his departure, as shown by other clubs’ willingness to move him on before too long.
Tottenham’s interest, while largely driven by agent talk, is therefore unlikely to grow in the future while it remains possible he could make the permanent switch to Zenit.
For the latest news surrounding Tottenham’s transfer plans, head over to Tottenham News.