As West Ham shows interest in a January transfer, Aston Villa demands a fee of at least £20 million to sell their “robust” diamond, Jhon Duran.

Alan Hutton, a former full-back for Aston Villa, is joining us as our exclusive columnist. He will provide his opinions on the most talked-about topics at Villa Park every week.

Alan Hutton doesn’t think Jhon Duran will be leaving Villa Park this month; it would take an offer of at least £20 million to entice him away from Aston Villa during the January transfer window.offensive alternatives at the London Stadium, David Moyes’ team, the Hammers, approached Villa this month about a possible loan-to-buy agreement for the Colombian striker [Jacob Steinberg, 21 January]. However, Emery’s team swiftly rejected their offer.

Steinberg claims that Chelsea has also been keeping an eye on the 20-year-old attacker, but Aston Villa doesn’t want to lose him during the January transfer window since they see him as an essential element of their team and Ollie Watkins’ backup.

Hutton is delighted that Aston Villa have knocked back the interest from their Premier League rivals and believes it would take a “really good” offer to take Duran away from Villa Park because of his huge potential.

“I wouldn’t sell him, I like him,” Hutton told Villa News.

“He’s performed incredibly well, in my opinion, when I’ve watched him play. He can score a goal, he’s hardworking, and he makes an effort. Playing behind Ollie Watkins has clearly been tough for him, but that is the situation as it stands right now.

“I don’t think it’s ideal to sell him at this time; I think he offers you a lot.” Given his potential, I have no idea what kind of money we’re talking about.

“He is still very young and will only get better. I’m not sure how much it would be, but it would have to be something really good for Villa to let him go because then who would they turn to if Watkins gets hurt?”

Although he hasn’t yet started a league game under Emery’s coaching, Duran, who transferred from Chicago Fire to Aston Villa in January, has managed to score twice in his 14 Premier League appearances this season.

Given Watkins’ outstanding play thus far this season, the Colombian international has been used more as an option in the Europa Conference League and the Carabao Cup and will probably have to settle for a similar role for the duration of the campaign.

Hutton is thrilled with one new John McGinn update that Villa Park has released this month, in other Aston Villa news.