Barcelona have reportedly made contact with the representatives of Aston Villa forward Jhon Duran.
Throughout the summer transfer window, Duran was frequently linked with a move elsewhere, most notably to Chelsea and West Ham United.
However, no club managed to successfully negotiate a fee for the Colombia international, who entered this season having made just three starts in the Premier League since January 2023.
While that has remained the case, Duran has showcased why Villa valued him in the region of £40m when clubs came knocking for his services during the summer.
Duran has netted three winning goals as a Premier League substitute and four in total since August 17, while he took advantage of his first start of the season on Tuesday night with a strike at Wycombe Wanderers in the EFL Cup.
With as many as 13 goals coming from 1,480 minutes in a Villa shirt, the 20-year-old is currently viewed as one of the top prospects in world football, despite playing second fiddle to Ollie Watkins.
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Barcelona planning future bid?
Sporting director Monchi recently claimed that 40 clubs expressed an interest in signing Duran during the off-season, making a point that it is Villa who continue to place the most faith in his ability.
Nevertheless, according to El Nacional, Barcelona have signalled their intent to make a future approach for Duran through their own sporting director Deco.
The former playmaker is said to have made contact with the player's representatives to gauge whether there is any interest and if a transfer would be feasible.
Barcelona currently have Robert Lewandowski, now 36 years of age, firing in the goals in the final third, with other versatile attackers able to deputise if required.
Given his veteran status, though, the Catalan giants will require a long-term alternative at some point, Duran now seemingly on the club's shortlist ahead of future transfer windows.
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What will be Villa's response?
With Duran's profile having rocketed upwards since Villa were valuing him at £40m, it is realistic to think that they would demand well in excess of that figure now.
Unai Emery and club officials have consistently praised the development of the player in recent weeks, but Duran will naturally want to start more important games if he is to remain happy in the West Midlands.
From Barcelona's perspective, it is questionable whether they would pay at least the aforementioned figure for someone who faces being second choice until Lewandowski leaves the club or retires.
Either way, in the short term at the very least, there is no prospect of Duran moving to the La Liga leaders.
Darren Plant
