Aston Villa book medical to sign forward who Emery feels can be next Duran

Aston Villa have booked a medical for a transfer target after agreeing terms over a four-year deal at Villa Park, and he could be the club’s next Jhon Duran.

How Jhon Duran is doing in Saudi Arabia after Aston Villa sale

It looked as if the 2024/25 season would be Duran’s big breakthrough campaign under Unai Emery, especially after he scored a famous winner against Bayern Munich in the Champions League league phase.

However, despite being a regular in the first half of the season, Duran was sold by Villa to Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr in the January transfer window. Talking after moving to Saudi Arabia, Duran said: “I’m really happy about the move. People in general and the media speculate about a lot of things. I think of only my family, my agent and me. I know why we make the decisions that we make. My family are especially important in these decisions. I don’t think it’s a backwards step for me. I’m moving to a competitive league and there are many stars here.”

Villa could go on to receive more than £70m after only signing Duran for £18m from Chicago Fire in January 2023, and the Colombia international has gone on to score on a regular basis for his new employers. In 18 appearances for Al-Nassr, Duran has scored 12 goals, partnering Cristiano Ronaldo in attack.

Villa are now on the search for their next attacking gem, and they feel they may have found it in likely first summer signing Zepiqueno Redmond following talks last month.

Aston Villa book medical to sign Zepiqueno Redmond

According to Football Insider and reporter Pete O’Rourke, Aston Villa have planned for Feyenoord forward Redmond to have his Midlands medical early next week.

The teenager has agreed a four-year deal with Villa and a move will be made official when his Feyenoord contract expires at the end of June.

Aged just 18, Redmond can play on either wing or as an attacking midfielder alongside his centre-forward role, and according to O’Rourke, ‘Emery and Monchi believe the Netherlands youth international can become as successful as Duran, the last teenage striker they signed.’

It is a big claim, and if Redmond can have the success Duran did in the Midlands, then Aston Villa will definitely be onto a winner and could go on to make big money further down the line.

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Fabrizio Romano has called Redmond “a talent” and “a striker with important potential”, with clubs in Italy also keen on the forward before Villa made their move.

The youngster will arrive at Villa after scoring two senior goals for Feyenoord in just nine appearances, so we may see him in Emery’s match day squads from the off in 25/26.