This “outstanding” attacker could replace Moussa Diaby

Aston Villa may have a surprise up front to replace Moussa Diaby.

This “outstanding” attacker could replace Moussa Diaby for £18 million.

Aston Villa’s rise to prominence in recent seasons has been remarkable, from retaining Premier League status on the final day of the 2020 season to finishing seventh by the end of the 2022/23 season and earning a spot in this season’s Europa Conference League group stage.

However, the most impressive aspect of Villa’s success has been their player recruitment. It took a few years to get it right, but Villa are now reaping the benefits of their wise transfer market acquisitions.

Ollie Watkins, Emiliano Martinez, Ezri Konsa, Douglas Luiz, and Boubacar Kamara were all signed for cheap and have since become first-team regulars.

Nonetheless, the club has invested in future talent, and one player in particular is knocking on Unai Emery’s door for a regular first-team spot.

How much did Aston Villa pay for Jhon Duran?

Last January, the Midlands club beat out the Chicago Fire for the signing of Jhon Duran, who scored eight goals in 27 MLS appearances. Duran also had 14 goal contributions in 28 games across all competitions for the Fire, which is quite an impressive feat for such a young player, and he earned three caps for Colombia.

Duran had been tipped for stardom for several years before joining Villa Park, having been named to The Guardian’s list of the top 60 best youngsters in the world in 2020 during his time with Envigado back home.

At one point, English giants Liverpool were linked with Duran, but it was Emery’s emerging army that won the race, completing his move to Aston Villa for a fee of up to £17.5 million.

The youngster appeared only 12 times in his first half-season in English football and did not score a single goal. Nonetheless, the Colombian received high praise from TV pundit Clinton Morrison, who stated that Duran looks “outstanding.”

Jhon Duran’s season stats

Duran has already outperformed his previous season’s total this season. The 19-year-old has scored four goals in 11 appearances for Emery this season, including twice in the Premier League, but Duran has yet to start a game for Villa in the top flight this season. His six league appearances have all come as a substitute.

Duran recently came off the bench during a home game against Crystal Palace, with the score locked at 1-0 in favor of the visitors. The starlet scored a spectacular half-volley to spark the hosts’ 3-1 comeback.

The rest of his goals have come in the Europa League, but Emery must now start trusting the expensive, young attacker to start league games, and the Spanish coach may push Duran up the pecking order above summer signing Moussa Diaby.

Emery has frequently used a 4-4-2 formation this season, with Diaby or Leon Bailey forming a front two alongside Ollie Watkins. Despite playing three times as many minutes as Diaby this season, Duran has scored more goals and has statistically performed better for Villa in terms of overall threat inside the penalty box.

Duran is more of a goal scorer than a creator, but he has been far more dangerous in the final third than Diaby this season, despite being signed for £51.9 million in the summer. Starting Duran would also relieve Watkins of the burden of scoring Villa’s goals, potentially making the Midlands even more potent up top than they are now.