“‘I’m Told’: talkSPORT Host’s On-Air Claim Will Infuriate West Ham Fans”

West Ham decided to sign Niclas Füllkrug instead of Jhon Duran, and while Füllkrug has struggled since joining, Duran has flourished at Aston Villa.

Initially, West Ham’s manager Julen Lopetegui and technical director Tim Steidten opted for the 31-year-old Füllkrug, even though Duran was eager to make a move to the London club.

Duran even made the ‘crossed hammers’ gesture during a live stream, signaling his desire to join West Ham.

Despite this, West Ham couldn’t meet Aston Villa’s financial demands for the 20-year-old Colombian striker.

Villa reportedly valued Duran at over £40 million, a price the Hammers were unwilling or unable to match.

Now, as Duran continues to thrive at Villa, the decision to bring in Füllkrug instead is looking increasingly like a misstep.

Every goal Duran scores for Villa amplifies the frustration surrounding West Ham’s failure to secure his services.

New information has come to light that may further anger West Ham supporters regarding the failed pursuit of Duran.

According to Andy Goldstein, a talkSPORT host, the reason the Hammers didn’t sign Duran might not have been purely financial but a matter of negotiating tactics.

Goldstein shared during a live segment on talkSPORT (October 3rd, 4:14 PM) that West Ham was willing to offer £30 million for Duran, but refused to go up to £35 million—a difference of just £5 million.

If true, this revelation will undoubtedly add to the frustration among West Ham fans.

While it was already frustrating to miss out on a player as talented as Duran, the idea that the club lost him over a mere £5 million seems particularly hard to accept.

The sense of “what could have been” looms large, as Duran’s qualities would have addressed many of the current issues at the club.

Had Lopetegui succeeded in bringing Duran to the London Stadium, the atmosphere around West Ham could be very different today.

The Colombian striker brings blistering pace, something West Ham lacks up front.

His enthusiasm, explosive movement, and sharp attacking play have proven to be valuable assets for Villa—traits that West Ham could have desperately used.

Although Füllkrug may eventually prove to be a solid addition to the squad, it’s evident that Duran would have been a transformative signing for West Ham.

The fact that the club didn’t push harder to secure his signature is seen by many as a significant error.

West Ham’s decision-makers will now have to live with the knowledge that they missed out on an extraordinary talent over a relatively small sum.

And if Goldstein’s claims are accurate, it becomes even more difficult for fans to understand why the club didn’t stretch their budget to land a player who is now proving to be a game-changer at Villa.

In hindsight, the decision not to pay an additional £5 million may come back to haunt West Ham forsome time.