Aston Villa’s Jhon Durán began the 2023-24 season in promising form, quickly making a name for himself with his goal-scoring ability. In the first two months of the season, the young striker netted six goals, showcasing his potential and earning the trust of the club. His impressive early performances led Villa to offer him a new contract extension on October 7th, which would keep him at the club until 2030.
However, since signing the extension, Durán’s form has noticeably dipped. He has only scored two goals since his new deal was secured, with one of them coming in a disappointing 3-1 defeat to Crystal Palace in the EFL Cup. This decline in performance has raised concerns not only within the club but also among football pundits in England, with some starting to question whether he can sustain the initial promise he showed.
These concerns have extended to his home country of Colombia, particularly in media outlets like Antena 2, who have commented on his recent struggles. There have also been growing speculations surrounding his future at Villa Park. Some reports suggest that if Durán’s form does not improve in the coming months, Aston Villa could consider offloading him in the summer transfer window.
At present, Durán’s role at Aston Villa has been more limited than he would like. Despite his early success, the 20-year-old has primarily been used as a substitute, with only three starts from a total of 19 appearances across all competitions. In those matches, he has accumulated just 638 minutes of playing time, and he has yet to feature in a starting lineup in the Premier League this season.
Sources close to the player indicate that Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has made it clear that Durán must show significant improvement in his performances if he is to secure more playing time. Emery’s expectations suggest that for Durán to establish himself as a regular starter and future fixture at Villa Park, he will need to demonstrate a higher level of consistency and contribution on the field.
If Durán fails to meet these demands, the possibility of him being sold in 2025 seems increasingly likely. The player may have to explore other options in the transfer market if his situation doesn’t improve. His ability to fulfill Emery’s expectations could be crucial not only for his immediate future at Aston Villa but for his career trajectory overall. The coming months will be pivotal for the Colombian striker as he looks to regain his earlier form and prove that he can be a long-term asset for the club.