Jhon Duran could be set for a swift return to the Premier League with Al-Nassr exploring the possibility of letting him leave the club on loan, according to reports.
The Colombia international joined Aston Villa from MLS side Chicago Fire in 2023 and enjoyed a stunning breakout campaign under Unai Emery last season.
Developing a reputation as a fearsome super-sub during the first-half of the campaign, he bagged 12 goals in 27 appearances – just seven of those starting appearances.
With Ollie Watkins still Emery’s preferred option to stary games up top, doubts grew over Duran’s future at Villa Park.
While Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United were among the long list of Premier League clubs interested in his services, Duran went onto join Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr for a reported fee of £65million.
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The 21-year-old has scored 12 goals in 18 appearances for his new club but reports in Saudi claim his future is now in real doubt.
Al-Riyadh claim Duran has faced issues playing in Saudi that have ‘affected his mental state and technical stability’.
Unnamed clubs have already expressed their interest in signing the striker on loan should Al-Nassr allow him to leave.
Duran’s decision to leave the Premier League at such a young age of for the Saudi league stunned many in the game including Chelsea great Frank Leboeuf.
‘Why do you want to leave top level football? That’s insane,’ he said.
‘You have to have in your blood the love of football. With all due respect to the Saudi League it’s for almost retired players. I did that in Qatar, the same in the MLS, we’ve seen that before in Japan.
‘It’s not for a 20-year-old. There are people who will say he can come back. We had Fofana go from Lens to Saudi Arabia and then went back to Rennes. It doesn’t work because it’s too hard, you drop your level.
‘The Premier League is different, so much faster, much more tactical, everything.
‘That’s not the thing to do right now. You have to think about football and the love of football and the fact you play at the top level.
‘That’s irresponsible from his agent to have pushed him to go there.’