West Ham's prime transfer target to be sold for just £2m more than Hammers offered amid Arsenal 'contact'

West Ham are set to miss out on one of their main January transfer targets, with the player now set to head elsewhere. The Hammers have been left short by injuries this month, ideally needing an addition at the back and up top.

Graham Potter had initially asked for reinforcements at the back, but after Niclas Fullkrug went down to injury, being ruled out for at least a few weeks, a striker became the priority.

The Irons then made a huge £57million bid to sign Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran, with the Colombian enjoying an impressive first half of the campaign despite being mooted for an exit over the summer. Villa quickly rejected the offer, and they were said to have been left furious with the timing of the offer from West Ham.

Though, in a surprise twist, it seems Villa were not against selling Duran, even for a similar price, simply not wanting to sell him to a Premier League rival. That’s because the Midlands side are said to be ready to accept an offer worth £59million to sell Duran, with Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr submitting the offer.

L'Equipe say Duran is close to securing a switch to link up with Cristiano Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia, meaning West Ham will miss out by just £2million, albeit Villa may have demanded more to sell to a Premier League rival. PSG and Real Madrid were also being linked with Duran in the last week or so, but neither of them made a move.

Arsenal were also linked, with Fabrizio Romano having said on his YouTube show:: “For Jhon Duran, let me tell you something. West Ham had a bid rejected. Interest from several clubs around Europe. What I’m told is also Arsenal made a call in recent weeks to understand the situation of Jhon Duran because Sesko, at the moment, no green light from Leipzig.”

The deal is not likely to please Villa boss Unai Emery, who said in recent days when asked about the possibility of Emery leaving: “I want him here.” On the other hand, it seems Emery will be handed a number of new signings this month, potentially including Chelsea’s Axel Disasi and Villarreal’s Juan Foyth, while an attacking signing is now surely likely with Villa losing a key player and preparing for the Champions League knockout stage in a few weeks, as well as a top four race.

For your next West Ham read, West Ham have been urged to follow David Moyes’ transfer strategy for £30m man