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Barcelona are exploring their options for bolstering their attacking line next season and have reportedly held talks with the agent of Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran. According to SPORT, Barcelona’s sporting director Deco met with a representative from the J7 Sports agency in December to discuss a potential summer move for the Colombian forward.

Duran, 21, has been in fine form for Aston Villa this season, despite being used primarily as a substitute. He matched his entire goal tally from last season (eight) before Halloween and added four more goals in December before a red card against Newcastle briefly interrupted his progress.

Recognizing his growing value, Aston Villa recently extended Duran’s contract until 2030 to ward off interest from rival clubs, including Chelsea and West Ham United. However, Barcelona have not abandoned their pursuit, with Deco’s informal meeting confirming Duran’s enthusiasm for a potential move to Camp Nou.

Despite this interest, Duran is not Barcelona’s top striker target. The club is also monitoring Manchester City’s Erling Haaland, Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyökeres, and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Šeško as they look to secure a long-term replacement for Robert Lewandowski. The Polish striker, who has been prolific in La Liga, will turn 37 before the start of the next season.

Aston Villa are expected to demand a fee in the range of £50m to £60m for Duran, significantly higher than the £40m he could have been signed for last summer. Barcelona, however, are better positioned to compete in the transfer market after achieving the “1:1” financial rule, allowing them to spend every euro they earn.

While Barcelona have endured financial challenges in recent years, they are taking steps to improve their squad. Securing a promising talent like Duran could be a strategic move for the Catalans as they plan for the future. Fans will be eager to see how these developments unfold as the summer window approaches.