AliousJhon Duran, who had been linked with a move to West Ham United this summer, scored the winning goal for Aston Villa against West Ham in their season opener.
Despite earlier reports of Duran wanting to leave Villa and interest from both Chelsea and West Ham, manager Unai Emery has attributed the transfer speculation to youthful impulsiveness.
Emery brought Duran on as a substitute when the score was tied 1-1, and the young Colombian striker scored the decisive goal.
The winning goal involved three substitutes – Ian Maatsen, Jacob Ramsey, and Duran – which could be a positive sign for Villa’s depth this season.
Gary Lineker praised Emery’s impactful substitutions on Match of the Day.
Joe Hart, making his punditry debut, highlighted the importance of squad depth for Villa’s challenging season ahead, given their participation in the Champions League.
He also praised the quality of the winning goal.Duran’s emphatic celebration seemed to indicate his commitment to Villa, despite the summer’s transfer speculation.
Emery addressed Duran’s situation in the post-match press conference, emphasizing the need to work with and support young players through their mistakes and impatience.
Emery stated that he wants Duran to stay at Villa, believing in his potential and the need for two strikers in a long season.
However, he acknowledged that the club would consider substantial offers for any player, including Duran.
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