'Medical booked' - PIF make £65m Premier League transfer swoop set to impact Arsenal & Newcastle United
Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran is close to completing a £65million move to the Saudi Pro League.
Saudi Arabian Public Investment owned club Al Nassr are looking to strike a deal with the Colombian forward, who has scored 12 goals in 29 appearances for Aston Villa so far this season. According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, the Saudi Pro League club are ‘on the verge’ of agreeing terms with the 21-year-old.
Al Nassr were also in negotiations with Victor Boniface from Bayer Leverkusen but appear to have opted to sign Duran instead.
Romano posted: “Jhon Durán to Al Nassr, here we go! Story from earlier tonight confirmed as documents are being prepared. Aston Villa to receive €77m [£65million] fixed fee plus add-ons, long-term deal accepted by Durán.
“Medical booked [Thursday] and then he will travel to Saudi right after.”
Villa qualified for the Champions League last-16 on Wednesday night with Duran an unused substitute in the 4-2 win against Celtic. Ollie Watkins scored and missed a penalty while Morgan Rodgers netted a hat-trick to mark one year at the club.
Last month, Duran was shown a straight red card for a foul on Fabian Schar in Newcastle United’s 3-0 win over Aston Villa at St James’ Park. Like Al Nassr, Newcastle are also majority-owned by PIF.
And whether Duran leaves Villa or not could impact The Magpies moving forward.
The knock-on impact on Newcastle United & Arsenal
Duran isn’t the only Villa striker to have been targeted in the final few days of the transfer window as various reports have now claimed Arsenal are looking to make a move for Watkins. The Gunners are long-term admirers of Newcastle striker Alexander Isak but a big-money move for the Villa forward would almost certainly put such transfer talk and speculation regarding the Swede to rest for now.
In the instance Duran moves to the Saudi Pro League, Villa would be reluctant to also let Watkins go heading into the business end of the season. According to Romano, Villa have already rejected a bid from Arsenal.
Villa and Newcastle are rivals for European qualification once again this season. The Magpies currently sit fifth on 41 points while Villa are eighth on 37.
Should Watkins remain at Villa, we can expect the rumour mill to keep and narrative to moving regarding Isak and Arsenal as Mikel Arteta looks to sign a striker. But Isak will not be leaving Newcastle this transfer window.
If Arsenal are able to sign Watkins from Villa then he would be in line to make his debut in the crucial Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Newcastle at St James’ Park next week. The tie takes place two days after the transfer window closes with The Magpies holding a 2-0 lead from the first leg at the Emirates Stadium earlier this month.
Isak scored in that game with Anthony Gordon adding a second after the break. Newcastle will be looking to see out the win on aggregate and reach the Carabao Cup final for the second time in three seasons.