Report: Tottenham and Leeds in battle to bring £71m Colombian star back to Premier League | OneFootball

Premier League Clubs Circle as Jhon Duran Return Comes Into Focus

TEAMtalk have surfaced a story that feels very much of the modern transfer market, intermediaries moving faster than clubs, opportunity arriving before strategy is fully formed, and a player whose talent still carries genuine Premier League weight.

Jhon Duran, only 22, is once again being discussed in English football circles after a turbulent year away. Formerly of Aston Villa, now owned by Al-Nassr and currently on loan at Fenerbahce, the Colombian striker has been offered back to several Premier League sides, including Tottenham Hotspur and Leeds United.

It is not difficult to understand why his name still resonates. Duran’s final six months at Villa Park were explosive. He scored 12 goals in 1,046 minutes across competitions, effectively “a goal-per-game striker before joining Al-Nassr”, with a goal involvement every 87 minutes. Those numbers, allied to the quality of finishes, linger long in recruitment memories.

Duran’s Unfinished Business in England

Duran never truly settled in Saudi Arabia and his subsequent loan to Fenerbahce has not reignited momentum. Despite expectation, he has struggled for consistent minutes amid competition from Anderson Talisca and Youssef En-Nesyri. As TEAMtalk report, “surprisingly, he’s not featuring all that regularly in Turkey”.

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French side Lille are currently in pole position to take over the loan, but intermediaries believe there is a late opening to bring Duran back to England before the window closes. “With Duran keen for stability after a turbulent year, his situation is expected to move quickly as the deadline approaches.”

That desire for clarity matters. At 22, Duran remains raw but his Villa spell showed a striker capable of decisive moments, long-range strikes, instinctive finishes and a fearlessness that Premier League defenders recognised.

Leeds Search for Cutting Edge

Leeds’ interest feels rooted in necessity. Their pursuit of Jorgen Strand Larsen appears to be stalling and TEAMtalk are blunt in their assessment. “Leeds look set to fall short in their bid to sign Jorgen Strand Larsen from Wolves. But in truth, Duran would represent a vastly superior option to the Norwegian who has scored just one Premier League goal – a penalty – all season.”

For a club pushing to re-establish itself, the appeal of a forward who has already thrived in England is obvious. Duran offers power, unpredictability and goals from limited service, qualities Leeds have lacked in key moments.

Tottenham Weigh Late Window Options

Tottenham’s situation is different but no less pressing. They face competition from Juventus over Randal Kolo Muani’s loan and patience is thinning. “The Frenchman has underwhelmed in north London and again, Duran would serve as a higher calibre replacement.”

For Spurs, this is about ceiling. Duran’s Villa numbers suggest a player who can change games quickly, even from the bench. At £71m as a permanent valuation he remains expensive, but a loan or creative structure could suit all parties.

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Deadline Pressure and Opportunity

Newcastle, Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest and West Ham have also been contacted, underlining the sense of a market-wide probe rather than a targeted move. Lille may still win the race, but Premier League interest speaks to unfinished belief.

Duran’s story is not one of decline but disruption. The question now is whether English clubs are brave enough to trust what they saw, rather than what followed.

Our View – EPL Index Analysis

For Leeds, this feels like the sort of gamble that promotion chasing sides must consider. Fans would see Duran as a forward who can tilt matches, someone who does not need ten chances to score one goal. Compared to the current options, his Villa output stands out sharply and the sense would be that Leeds have little to lose if the structure is right.

Tottenham supporters may view it through a different lens. There is fatigue with short-term attacking fixes, yet Duran feels less like a stopgap and more like an opportunity missed once already. His age profile fits, his Premier League record reassures, and his hunger for stability could align with a squad needing fresh edge. For Spurs fans, the appeal lies in upside. This is not about saving a season, but about finding a forward capable of growing into something bigger.