Aston Villa have announced that Jhon Duran has committed his future to the club by signing a new contract.
Through the summer transfer window, speculation persisted that the Colombia international would be departing the West Midlands outfit.
That was a consequence of just three Premier League starts coming in 16 months and question marks remaining over his attitude behind the scenes.
Furthermore, the 20-year-old was identified as a potential exit courtesy of their need to meet the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability regulations, something that was achieved through selling Douglas Luiz instead.
However, Duran has turned his situation around, incredibly scoring four winning goals as a substitute during the early part of the campaign.
As well as netting such goals against West Ham United, Leicester City and Everton in the Premier League, Duran scored one of the club's most famous strikes as Villa defeated Bayern Munich by a 1-0 scoreline in the Champions League last week.
Duran ends transfer speculation
On the back of the interest from Chelsea and West Ham United in the summer, Barcelona were recently credited as having become admirers of the striker.
Nevertheless, Villa and Duran have made the surprise announcement that they have agreed terms over terms that will last until 2030.
That has effectively ended any hope that a rival club - in the Premier League or on the continent - acquiring the services of Duran in one of the upcoming transfer windows.
As well as bringing stability over his own particular situation, Villa now know that they have Ollie Watkins and Duran committed to the club in the long term.
The situation is only likely to change if Villa fail to qualify for the Champions League or Europa League on a consistent basis, or if an offer is made which Villa cannot refuse.
What was Duran's alleged asking price?
During the off-season, it was widely claimed that Villa would have been prepared to sell Duran if they received a proposal worth £40m.
That stance has allegedly since changed, with Villa not prepared to consider a sale unless they receive double that amount.
