Premier League rivals 'open to cashing in' on £40m Newcastle United transfer target as early as January

Newcastle United have potentially been handed a boost in their pursuit of Aston Villa’s Jhon Durán. The Colombian signed for Unai Emery’s side last January at just 20 years of age, he is already turning heads with his performances.

During his first full season at Villa Park, Durán made a handful of starts but was often limited to appearances from off the bench. He contributed eight goals across all competitions and has hit the ground running this campaign. The striker has featured in all five Premier League matches so far and despite not starting a single one, he has already scored four goals, including three in his last three.

However, despite his impact from off the bench, he still faces a huge task to nudge Ollie Watkins out of the starting lineup. The England international chalked up a superb 27 goals and 13 assists in all competitions last season, making him a target for other clubs but especially a player Villa will want to tie down.

According to GiveMeSport, Emery and co are ‘open to cashing in’ on Durán as early as January. The report claims that despite his impressive start to the season, Villa could offload him in January when the transfer window reopens.

Newcastle have been linked with the 20-year-old but Chelsea are also in the race for his signature. The Blues have reportedly ‘refused to rule out the possibility’ of making a move for Durán in 2025 but the Magpies are ‘threatening to provide competition’, alongside Serie A giants AC Milan.

Despite seeing how much Durán can deliver, even as a back-up option, Villa are still considering cashing in and there have been ‘no suggestions’ that he is in line to be offered a new deal either. He still has three-and-a-half years remaining on his current deal, which is said to be worth £30,000 per week, as per the report.

It has been reported that the Midlands club is seeking in the region of £40 million for the sale of Durán. Newcastle’s summer transfer window came under fire for their lack of marquee signings, which hints that January and next summer could be a bit more action-packed.