Aston Villa outline Jhon Duran stance after 'derisory' West Ham offer

The offer was viewed as derisory by Villa with club sources insisting it was some way short of the £57million plus add-ons bid pushed by the Hammers in the media.

Even a bid in that ballpark is thought to be well below Villa’s valuation of the Colombia international, who has scored 12 goals in all competitions this season.

Duran was the subject of several failed bids from the Hammers in the summer and promptly scored the winner for Villa on the opening day of the campaign at the London Stadium.

The 21-year-old, who joined two years ago this month from Chicago Fire in an £18million deal, has since signed a new contract through to 2030 and is viewed as a huge part of Unai Emery’s plans.

The Villa boss declined to even discuss the subject of West Ham’s bid at a press conference ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League tie in Monaco. It is understood Villa are unhappy at the timing of the offer emerging in the press, just hours before a crucial fixture.

Emery instead revealed he still hopes to find a way to pair Duran with his other star striker, Ollie Watkins, before the end of the campaign.

The two are yet to start together this season despite combining for 22 goals in all competitions.

Emery said: “It is my challenge to get the best from them, individually and then collectively. It means maybe playing them together.

“I think we are going to watch those players together, maybe within a match. And as well I think I can find a solution for them to play in the starting XI together. But they have to try to understand their roles.”

While Duran appears to be going nowhere, defender Diego Carlos is closing in on a move to Fenerbahce. Villa want to sign Sevilla’s Loic Bade as a replacement and talks over that deal are progressing.