Arsenal have initiated discussions over a potential signing from Aston Villa, with Mikel Arteta reportedly targeting one of Unai Emery’s standout players. Following a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Bournemouth, where William Saliba was sent off and Arsenal lacked attacking spark, the Gunners are looking to bolster their forward options.
According to reports, Arteta has set his sights on Aston Villa’s rising star Jhon Duran, a player attracting interest from as many as 40 clubs. The Colombian outlet *AS* revealed Arsenal’s interest, and *Sport Witness* claims the club has already made contact regarding the move.
Duran has impressed as a super-sub under Emery, scoring notably against Bayern Munich in the Champions League. He has mostly come off the bench to replace Ollie Watkins, cementing his reputation as one of the Premier League’s standout young forwards. Arsenal are reportedly keen on addressing their long-standing need for another striker to support Kai Havertz, who has been deployed as a No.9 but is more naturally an attacking midfielder. Dusan Vlahovic and Florian Wirtz have also been linked with the club, but Arteta appears to be seriously considering Duran.
However, there are significant hurdles to this move. Villa has reportedly set Duran’s price tag at €85-90 million, far more than Arsenal might be willing to pay for a player who, despite his potential, remains relatively unproven at the highest level. Additionally, Unai Emery sees Duran as a key part of his plans, with the 20-year-old playing regularly in Villa’s Champions League campaign. His current contract runs until 2030, and his market value, according to Transfermarkt, is €35 million.
While Duran could provide Arsenal with a clinical edge, Arteta has historically been cautious about spending big on players without an established track record. Given Arsenal’s recent high-profile signings of proven talents like Declan Rice and Havertz, it seems unlikely they would meet Villa’s valuation for the young Colombian.
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