'Not a football move' - Aston Villa star torn apart ahead of controversial big-money January transfer exit

Former Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan has claimed that Saudi-bound Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran is not ‘a serious footballer’ after agreeing to leave the West Midlands for the Middle East this month.

Duran, 21, who remained an unused substitute during Villa’s 4-2 Champions League win over Celtic, looks destined to join Saudi Pro League heavyweights Al-Nassr in a blockbuster £64m move, which will see him link up with veteran forward and five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo in a mouthwatering partnership at Al-Awwal Park.

The Colombian, who has scored 12 goals in 29 appearances across all competitions this season, has emerged as one of the standout youngsters in the Premier League this season as is renowned for his exceptional ability to change the course of the game by scoring from long distance.

He was the subject of rampant speculation linking him with a switch to West Ham after an offer of £30 million plus Lewis Orford was rejected over the summer - and remained a prominent target in this window with the Hammers seeing an improved offer of £57m also get declined.

The likes of Chelsea, Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain also expressed an interest in prising away the talented forward, who despite impressing this season, has struggled to dislodge Ollie Watkins in the starting line-up.

However, at just 21-years of age, he has made the decision to move to the Middle East and is travelling for a medical in Riyadh as he edges closer to completing a five-year-deal with personal terms already understood to be agreed.

Simon Jordan’s scathing Jhon Duran verdict

Duran’s transfer to Al-Nassr is one of the biggest talking points of the January transfer window and one which is expected to divide the opinion of the footballing world.

From a Villa perspective it represents a tidy profit for a club that paid just £14.5m to bring him to the club from Chicago Fire just two years ago. However, it also leaves further pressure on Ollie Watkins to lead the line, in a demanding run for the Villans which sees them compete for success in the Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup.

When discussing the transfer with colleague Jim White, Jordan said, via TalkSport: “He’s not a serious footballer, is he? He’s 21 years of age at the beginning of his career with all the world in front of him. Playing in the best league for a big football club, and he wants to go and play Saudi. He’s not a serious footballer.

“Jhon Duran is a young 21-year-old Colombian international footballer with a real talent. This is not a football move. It’s a money move. Just call it for what it is.”

Will Aston Villa sign a replacement for Jhon Duran?

Aston Villa have just one fit and available forward in Ollie Watkins, who himself is the subject of rampant speculation from Arsenal after a bid of around £60m was turned down just hours before Unai Emery’s side’s game with Celtic. Villa are determined to retain the services of the 29-year-old, who has scored an impressive 81 goals in 201 games for The Lions, including 11 in 31 appearances this term.

Football Insider understands that Emery is eyeing up a potential move for Chelsea forward Joao Felix after the Portuguese striker’s lack of game time at Stamford Bridge this season. Felix has scored seven times in his 20 appearances for the Blues this term, but has been limited to just three Premier League starts, with the bulk of his appearances either coming from the bench or in the Europa Conference League.

However, this latest update has suggested that a move to Villa Park is currently unlikely for the forward. It is thought that Felix would need to be convinced about a move to join Emery’s side, while Chelsea have reservations about selling a player to a direct European rival as they aim to reclaim a place in the Champions League after a two-year absence.