Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has made a brutal transfer decision and it could really benefit West Ham in the January window.
West Ham and Aston Villa were linked throughout the entirety of the summer transfer window.
That was because Julen Lopetegui tried, and failed, to bring Jhon Duran to the club on numerous occasions.
The Hammers missed out on signing Duran in the end after Aston Villa outfit demanded north of £40 million for the striker.
Why didn’t we just push the boat out and meet Villa’s demands for the 21-year-old? He would have been a transformational signing for us.
It’s painfully obvious to see that we could have really done with the Colombia international at the London Stadium.
Our lack of pace inside the final third is a huge concern, and that should have been addressed in the summer.
That said, we now seemingly have a really good chance to atone for the error we made by missing out on Duran.
Villa boss Emery is apparently prepared to let one of his most exciting young attackers leave Villa Park this winter.
And West Ham need to be all over it.
Unai Emery makes brutal Aston Villa transfer decision
The January window will be a vitally important one for both the Hammers and the Villans.
Whilst West Ham have been horrendous this season, Villa have underwhelmed by their very high standards.
The Hammers are currently in talks with numerous different transfer targets.
And if we are going to achieve any kind of success during the second half of the season, two or three new additions will be required this month.
The same can be said for Villa in all honesty.
If they are to achieve their goals, and by that I mean finish inside the top four once again, Emery needs to make some big signings this month.
However, all the talk around Villa Park at the moment is about a potential outgoing.
And West Ham cannot afford to let this opportunity pass them by.
West Ham can bring Jaden Philogene back to London
Jaden Philogene could leave Villa Park in the January window according to Fabrizio Romano.
Philogene, 22, joined Villa from Hull City in the summer for around £18 million (BBC).
However, things haven’t quite worked out for Philogene at Villa – has failed to register either a goal or an assist for them yet.
That said, he has only been given 326 minutes of action in the Premier League, so he clearly needs to play more regularly if he is to show his best form.
Interestingly, Lopetegui actually wanted to bring the Hammersmith-born winger to the London Stadium before Villa won the race for his signature.
Now West Ham could have a second bite at the cherry.
If Philogene is indeed available, the Hammers need to go all out to bring the pacy winger back to London.
He has absolutely everything that we need inside the final third right now, what with his blistering pace, direct playing style and keen eye for goal.
When he was playing regularly last season, he bagged 12 goals and six assists in 32 Championship games for a poor Hull City side.
We desperately need an injection of pace and youth, and the Villa winger would be the perfect man for the job.
If the opportunity is there for West Ham to go out and sign Jaden Philogene from Aston Villa in January, the powers that be at the London Stadium absolutely must make it happen.
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