AC Milan eye Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran with Unai Emery's side open to offers... as Villans move... (original) (raw)

AC Milan eye Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran with Unai Emery's side open to offers... as Villans move on Finn Azaz to FA Cup rivals Middlesbrough

• The 20-year-old striker was recruited under former sporting director Lange
• But Villa could struggle to find a suitable replacement to deputise to Watkins
• It's about survival! FA Cup replays must remain for the good of English football - It's All Kicking Off

Published: 03:27 EST, 6 January 2024 | Updated: 04:08 EST, 6 January 2024

Aston Villa are willing to listen to offers for Jhon Duran if they can find a suitable replacement this window, and the Colombian has interest from AC Milan.

However, the club may encounter difficulty finding a candidate that can offer a robust back-up option to first-choice striker Ollie Watkins during the January window.

Watkins has been in blistering form this season, effectively shutting Duran out of Emery's immediate plans.

Mail Sport also understands that the head coach and his player have sometimes not seen eye to eye, with the 20-year-old thought to be frustrated with decisions to substitute him at various points during Villa's European season.

The Villans have sold Finn Azaz to Middlesbrough for £2million but he is not eligible to face his former club in the FA Cup on Saturday.

Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran has caught the eye at AC Milan and Villa are open to offers

Meanwhile, the club has moved on Finn Azaz (centre) to Saturday's rivals Middlesbrough

The player had previously been on loan at Plymouth Argyle for the last two seasons, and was described by then-head coach Steve Schumacher as 'the most intelligent footballer I have ever met'.

Continuing to manage their outgoings, Villa, who have expressed interest in Crystal Palace and West Ham target Ronnie Edwards at Peterborough United, have allowed left-back Ben Chrisene to join Blackburn on loan.

Last season the 19-year-old was on loan at Kilmarnock before being sidelined nearly a year ago when he tore his medial ligament.

Chrisene has two years left on his current deal with Villa, signed under then-head coach Steven Gerrard.

Rovers captain Lewis Travis is to join Ipswich on a season-long loan, jumping up the Championship table in the process to join the promotion-challengers.

Villa teen Ben Chrisene (right, for Kilmarnock in 2023) has joined Blackburn Rovers on loan

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Blackburn head coach Jon Dahl Tomasson admitted that the move had roots in the club's financial position.

'He's one of the more expensive boys in our group, so (the move) will free some space up in the financial department to get some players in as well,' Tomasson said.