'He'll go': Joe Cole tips Aston Villa star to leave unless one big change is made
Today at 03:55 AM
Jhon Duran has established himself as one of Aston Villa’s star players this season, an impressive feat given that the striker has made just one start in all competitions.
Six goals from 297 minutes of football has made Duran the go-to player for Villa whenever they’re in need of a goal from the bench, with the 20-year-old scoring winners against Leicester City, Everton and now Bayern Munich.
With Ian Taylor hailing Duran as a ‘manager’s dream’, the former Chicago Fire superstar could be set for a huge future with Villa if the attacker can keep proving to Unai Emery that he is the man to provide game-changing moments.
Yet Joe Cole now thinks Duran could leave unless Villa make a big change.
Duran predicted to leave Aston Villa if he doesn’t become a starter
Speaking to GiveMeSport, the pundit made the sensible prediction that Duran could depart Villa Park if he still doesn’t become a starter for Emery’s side this season, with Ollie Watkins still the main man for the Premier League side.
With Duran also carving a real niche for himself in being a super sub this season for Villa, it could be hard for the 20-year-old attacker to break into the main starting XI unless something were to happen to Watkins in regards to an injury or even leaving the club.
And for Cole, Villa not making Duran a starter this season could lead to the Colombian youngster packing up and taking his talents elsewhere, something that almost happened this summer for the Villa Park prospect.
Cole said: “I think he’ll go and become a major starter or at Villa. That’s the other thing though, if Villa don’t start him soon, he’s going to be thinking: ‘Well, I’m going to go somewhere else and start’, because there is a good handful of clubs all around Europe who would take him and make him their no. 9.”
Villa face a real dilemma with what to do with Duran and Watkins
Villa are blessed to have two of the best strikers in the Premier League this season in Duran and Watkins, with the pair giving Emery two different skillsets that any manager would love to have in their squad.
However, Villa’s system means only one can start, and Duran’s ambition to become a starter could lead to the Colombia international leaving Villa Park if Emery continues to stick with Watkins as the main attacker this season.
Indeed, Villa face a real dilemma in what to do with Duran and Watkins, and the outcome could be one that Villian supporters are not pleased with given how important the pair are for Emery’s side.
