West Ham are ramping up their pursuit of striker Jhon Duran and could be set to meet Aston Villa's £40million valuation, after having their opening bid for the player rejected.
According to The Independent, Villa have already turned down a reported bid of £32million for the Colombian striker, in a cash-plus-player deal, which would've seen 18-year-old Hammers' midfielder, Lewis Orford, go the other way.
Duran, 20, is already the subject of interest among other Premier League teams this summer, with Chelsea thought to have expressed interest in the young striker earlier in the transfer window.
It's thought the Blues were not prepared to pay Villa's £40million price, which the Brum club have remained steadfast in asking for, so far.
West Ham could sign striker Jhon Duran this summer, if they meet Villa's £40million price tag
West Ham's new head coach, Julen, Lopetegui, wants to add to his forward line this summer
This has left room for the Hammers to do a deal, with new manager Julen Lopetegui looking to add to his forward line ahead of the new season.
And it's becoming increasingly likely that Duran could swap the claret and blue of the Birmingham club for that of the one in East London, as he is thought to be keen on moving to another Premier League club where he can make a mark.
Duran joined Villa from MLS side Chicago Fire in January 2023, in worth around £18million.
He's scored five goals in that time for the Villains, but has largely played second fiddle to England striker, Ollie Watkins, starting just three times in 23 league apperances.
In January, Mail Sport revealed that head coach Unai Emery and his player had sometimes not seen eye to eye, with the 20-year-old thought to be frustrated with decisions to substitute him at various points during Villa's European season.
Hammers youngster Lewis Orford was part of the West Ham offer in their bid to land Duran
Like his English teammate, Duran is a full international, too, having been capped 10 times for his home country, Colombia. He played just 12 minutes of the South American nation's ill-fated Copa America campaign, this month.
Lewis Orford, meanwhile, is an England youth international and has made six EFL Trophy appearances for the club's academy side.
The 18-year-old was also part of the Hammers' winning FA Youth Cup roster in 2023.