Al-Nassr explore deal to buy Aston Villa’s Jhon Durán rather than Boniface

Al-Nassr are exploring a deal to sign Aston Villa’s Jhon Durán instead of the Bayer Leverkusen striker Victor Boniface.

Although an agreement is in place for Boniface to move to the Saudi Arabian club, there is confusion over whether the €70m transfer will go ahead. Al-Nassr, whose attack is led by Cristiano Ronaldo, are also looking at Durán and have held talks over a move for the Villa striker.

Villa angrily rejected a £57m offer from West Ham for Durán last week but speculation over his future has not gone away. The Midlands club have been looking for about £80m for the Colombian and a sale has not been ruled out before the transfer window shuts on Monday night.

Paris Saint-Germain have shown interest in Durán, who has scored 12 goals this season, but Al-Nassr’s presence has altered the picture. It is an odd situation given that Leverkusen had given permission to Boniface to have a medical with the Saudi Pro League club. Leverkusen, who have loaned Emi Buendia from Villa, are one of the clubs tracking the Brighton striker Evan Ferguson.

Villa have signed the Netherlands forward Donyell Malen from Borussia Dortmund and fetching a big fee for Durán would boost their budget. An issue for Unai Emery is that he prefers to play with one striker and has had little luck pairing Duran with Ollie Watkins. There is no doubt over Duran’s talent but questions have been raised about his attitude. Chelsea and West Ham looked at signing him last summer.

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Villa have held talks with Chelsea over signing the France defender Axel Disasi and the Portugal forward João Félix. Emery needs defensive reinforcements and Disasi favours a move to Villa. However there is doubt over whether Félix can be convinced to join Villa. Emery is a big fan of the former Benfica forward, who has not held down a regular place since joining Chelsea last summer, but sources believe that the 25-year-old is unlikely to stay in the Premier League if he leaves this month.

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