Jhon Duran signs a new SIX-YEAR Aston Villa contract as reward for a good start to the season – after the club rejected FORTY offers for star striker in the summer

Jhon Duran has signed a new six-year contract with Aston Villa as reward for his good start to the season, after the club rejected 40 offers for the star man last summer.

The striker came off the bench with great enthusiasm for the Villans this season, scoring six goals in all competitions as Unai Emery’s side performed well on all fronts.

He hasn’t scored any tap-ins either. Duran is known for his daring finishes and outrageous attacks from distance.

The Colombian dominated last week as he fired the ball from distance past a stranded Manuel Neuer to give Villa a famous 1-0 win over Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

By making the super-sub role his own, Duran has caused his manager headaches, with 20-year-old outscoring England star Ollie Watkins still the starting No.9 for the West Midlands side.

Jhon Duran has signed a new six-year contract with Aston Villa as reward for his good start to the season

The striker came off the bench at Aston Villa this season and has scored six goals in all competitions

With Manuel Neuer off his line, Duran executed his finish perfectly against Bayern Munich

He showed great awareness against West Ham – he was deliberately offside at the start of the action but slowed down to allow defenders to pass him

Either way, he will take to the field after the international break with a splashy new contract to his name as he looks to capitalize on his red-hot form.

In his first full season at the club last year, Duran scored eight goals in 37 appearances after joining from MLS side Chicago Fire, although he spent the majority of his performances off the bench.

It didn’t take long for the Colombian to make his mark on this campaign. He scored the winner in the opening game against West Ham just 17 minutes after coming on.

After drifting in from an offside position, he provided a fine first finish from Ian Maatsen’s low cross.

A fortnight later, Duran made an even quicker impact, scoring with his first touch against Leicester on 31 August. When Lucas Digne’s cross came in, he nudged his marker to gain some space and bury the header.

After the international breakthrough, the supreme talent struck with one of his now trademark long-range efforts to complete an impressive comeback against Everton.

Another perfectly timed run against Wolves showed he has the instincts of a classic centre-forward and earned him a neat goal to complete another come-from-behind victory.

Throw in a composed converted penalty during a rare start in the Carabao Cup against Wycombe and Duran entered Villa’s big date with Bayern in wonderful form.

By making the super-sub role his own, Duran has caused his manager a headache

Either way, he will take to the field after the international break with a splashy new contract to his name as he looks to capitalize on his red-hot form.

The young Colombian has shown fantastic strength with his long-range shooting, but the goal against Everton was the best example yet

It’s easy for a young striker to be too enthusiastic on the break and wander a yard or two offside, but Duran delays his run against Wolves.

And he proved to be the match-winner in the side’s biggest European game in forty years, when he broke the lines to find some space and passed the ball past Neuer at high speed.

Pau Torres swept the ball towards him, and although Upamecano shadowed him, Duran saw that Neuer had ventured out of his goal.

Duran turned and struck the ball with his left foot in one motion, brilliantly lifting it over Neuer and into the net, sending thousands of fans into rapturous celebration.