Aston Villa is actively pursuing the signing of Donyell Malen from Borussia Dortmund as negotiations between the two clubs continue. The Premier League side has made several attempts to strengthen its attacking options, particularly after the departure of Moussa Diaby. Recently, Villa submitted their bid for the Dutch international, reportedly worth around £15 million plus bonuses. This, unfortunately, fell short of Dortmund’s valuation of around £25 million.
According to David Ornstein from The Athletic, Aston Villa’s interest is part of their larger strategy to bolster the squad. Malen, who has faced difficulties securing consistent playing time this season at Dortmund—having started only six games during the Bayer Bundesliga campaign—is reportedly eager for a fresh start. Dortmund is willing to negotiate, which opens the door for Villa to land this versatile player.
So far this season, Malen has made headlines by scoring five goals across all competitions, including his recent performance against Wolfsburg, where he netted during Dortmund's 3-1 victory. Malen's current contract with Dortmund runs until 2026, but his representatives have communicated his desire to leave, citing limited first-team opportunities.
Despite the initial £15 million offer from Villa being deemed insufficient by Dortmund, negotiations are still alive, and both parties aim to reach common ground. Villa is eager to finalize the deal quickly, but they face competition from other Premier League clubs such as Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest, and West Ham United, who have also been made aware of Malen's availability.
Unai Emery, the manager of Aston Villa, is particularly focused on acquiring players capable of adding depth and versatility to the squad. Malen's ability to play on both wings and as a forward matches the club’s criteria for potential new signings. Villa is reportedly considering offloading their young forward, Jaden Philogene, to free up space and funds to complete the transfer of Malen.
Aston Villa’s pursuit of Malen brings to the forefront the player’s past experiences and challenges, primarily during his time at Arsenal. Thierry Henry, who worked within the Arsenal academy when Malen was there, reflected on his difficulties managing the pressure at such a high-profile club. "It was difficult for him to handle the pressure at Ajax, so he came to Arsenal," Henry shared during his analysis with CBS Sports.
After leaving Arsenal, Malen made his mark at PSV Eindhoven, scoring 40 league goals before moving to Dortmund. His career has been marked by periods of brilliance interspersed with inconsistency, leading to questions about his current form and overall potential. "Malen’s form has always been volatile," commented German football correspondent Sebastian Stafford-Bloor. Given the circumstances, there’s hope for him to regain his footing at Villa.
An agreement between Aston Villa and Borussia Dortmund could be pivotal not just for Malen's future but also for Villa's ambitions this season as they aim to challenge for higher placement in the Premier League. Currently sitting ninth, they need fresh attacking dynamism to close the gap on teams above them.
With the January transfer window open, time is of the essence for Aston Villa as they also keep tabs on other targets, including Brighton's Evan Ferguson and PSG's Randal Kolo Muani, which aids their recruitment strategy moving forward. Despite having made progress with Malen, Villa's potential success will hinge on their ability to make the necessary financial adjustments and potentially offload peripheral players.
So, the question remains: will Aston Villa find the financial flexibility to secure Donyell Malen before the window closes? Should they succeed, Malen might just be the key ingredient the team needs to boost their performance for the remainder of the season.