Aston Villa are reportedly considering a move for Donyell Malen, the Borussia Dortmund forward, as highlighted by The Hard Tackle. The club previously submitted a bid of £15 million for the 25-year-old, which was rejected by the Bundesliga side. Current discussions suggest that Dortmund are now seeking around £20 million for Malen, although figures of £18 million have also surfaced during negotiations.
Further insights from Graeme Bailey on TBR Football indicate that intermediaries have been actively promoting Malen to several Premier League clubs, including Newcastle United and West Ham United. Bailey notes that the asking price for the Dutch international could be higher than initially expected. There are even suggestions that Aston Villa may contemplate including Jaden Philogene in a package deal to secure Malen's services.
Since his transfer from PSV Eindhoven to Borussia Dortmund in July 2021, Malen's time at Signal Iduna Park has been marked by inconsistency. He has struggled to cement his place as a regular starter, showcasing his potential only intermittently. This season, he has played less than 1,000 minutes across 20 appearances, contributing five goals and one assist. Despite these challenges, his profile in the transfer market remains robust, with Aston Villa among the clubs keen on his talents.
The pursuit of Malen appears to align well with Aston Villa's ambitions to bolster their attacking options. The club is evaluating multiple players, including Nicolas Kuhn, but Malen stands out as a primary target following their earlier unsuccessful bid.
Newcastle United are also exploring the possibility of acquiring a player of Malen's calibre, particularly in light of uncertainties surrounding Miguel Almiron’s future at the club. Meanwhile, West Ham view Malen as a versatile addition to their attack as they seek a new striker.
According to Sky Sports, Borussia Dortmund's asking price of around £20 million for Malen suggests that Aston Villa may be edging closer to an agreement with the Bundesliga club. This development indicates that a potential transfer during the upcoming winter window could be on the horizon for the Dutch international, further enhancing Villa's attacking prowess.