Barcelona meet with Aston Villa striker's representatives as asking price set | OneFootball

The agent of Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran met with Barcelona sporting director Deco in December to lay the groundwork for a potential summer move, according to a report in Spain.

Duran has been in prolific form for Aston Villa this season despite starting the campaign almost exclusively as a substitute. The 21-year-old matched his total scoring tally from last season (eight) before Halloween. After a minor drought, Duran found the net four times in December until a red card against Newcastle United halted his return to form.

The Colombia international was rewarded for his fast start with a new Villa contract stretching until 2030. That lengthy deal was intended to ward off interest from opposition clubs - Chelsea and West Ham United had both been sniffing around the forward - but Barcelona have not given up hope.

Deco met with a member of Duran's representatives from J7 Sports agency in December, according to the Spanish publication SPORT. The informal discussion confirmed that the young forward would be "excited" to play for Barcelona, although he is not necessarily the club's first-choice striker target.

Jhon Duran has been red-hot form for Aston Villa this season / James Gill - Danehouse/GettyImages

Current number nine Robert Lewandowski is La Liga's leading scorer this season but has only netted two league goals since October and will be 37 at the start of next season. Manchester City talisman Erling Haaland, in-demand Sporting CP forward Viktor Gyokeres and RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko have all been touted as striker alternatives for the Catalans.

After his extension, Villa are expected to demand a fee of between £50m and £60m for Duran, who could have been available for just £40m last summer. Barcelona have been riddled with financial uncertainty in recent years and risk losing Dani Olmo and Pau Victor to free transfers after failing to register the pair for the second half of the campain.

However, Barcelona are set to become more competitive in the transfer market after achieving the "1:1" rule - which allows a club to spend every euro they earn, following years of restricted outlays.