Surely we only do individual ones when we actually sign them or is it as good as done. Until then it is all speculation and could collapse easily.
Aston Villa in talks to sign Borussia Dortmund forward Donyell MalenBy David Ornstein23m ago12Aston Villa are in talks with Borussia Dortmund over a potential deal to sign Donyell Malen.Villa have made an offer for the forward worth around €18million (£14.9m, $18.6m) plus add-ons, which falls short of Dortmund’s valuation but negotiations continue between the clubs.The Premier League side are looking to strengthen their squad with a versatile attacker and Malen is high among multiple candidates.The 25-year-old Dutch international, who is contracted until 2026, has started six of his team’s 15 Bundesliga games so far this season and scored five goals across all competitions — including twice in the Champions League.Malen made four appearances for the Netherlands at Euro 2024, finding the net twice in their round of 16 victory over Romania and starting the semi-final defeat against England.He joined Dortmund from PSV Eindhoven in the summer of 2021 — scoring 39 goals in 131 appearances and featuring eight times for Dortmund during a run to the 2024 Champions League final, where he was a second-half substitute in the 2-0 defeat by Real Madrid.Villa are ninth in the English top-flight and next play at home to Leicester City on January 4.Analysis from Aston Villa correspondent Jacob TanswellVilla have been open to signing a multi-faceted forward in January for some time, having been short of an option across the front line since Moussa Diaby’s departure in the summer.Malen would suit the criteria of a forward, like Diaby, who can operate across several positions such as a second forward and wide player and share the goal scoring burden on Jhon Duran and Ollie Watkins, in turn replacing the goals lost from Diaby and Douglas Luiz last season, as well as Leon Bailey, who has struggled for form this term.There has always been an internal acknowledgment, however, that any moves will be dependent on the conditions of the deal and if they remain within the club’s financial parameters.Malen’s career has blown hot and coldAnalysis from German football correspondent Sebastian Stafford-BloorMalen’s Dortmund career has been a riddle. Despite more than three years at the club, a consensus has never really been reached on his value. And that’s not a measure of his talent, but his consistency. Malen’s form has always been volatile, with hot streaks melting away as quickly as they appeared.Over the past year, when it became an open secret that he would prefer to continue his career elsewhere, the relationship between him and the Dortmund fans has been tricky. It’s a further complication to a career that has never really been one thing nor the other, rather a strange blend of the good and bad.He’s talented and he’s shown that he can be a game-changer at the highest level, just never with enough regularity. The caveat there, though, is that the teams he has played for in Dortmund have often been flawed or in transition — he never had the privilege of working with a coach as permanent as Jurgen Klopp or as ideologically commanding as Thomas Tuchel — so a rebirth in the Midlands is hardly out of the question.
I can't say I've been wowed by what I've seen of him in the past. My gut instinct is that he isn't as good as Diaby. However he scored 15 goals in the Bundesliga last season so for potentially 20m we can't turn our noses up at that especially as we badly need another option on the right.
Quote from: SoccerHQ on January 02, 2025, 11:14:15 AMI can't say I've been wowed by what I've seen of him in the past. My gut instinct is that he isn't as good as Diaby. However he scored 15 goals in the Bundesliga last season so for potentially 20m we can't turn our noses up at that especially as we badly need another option on the right.A very unscientific observation, but I reckon that wide-ish attacking players who do pretty well in the Bundlesliga must be up there with the highest cross-over success rate to the Premier League. He's the same age as Cunha for example and he's done better for Dortmund than Cunha did at either Leipzig or Hertha.
I thought he was nearer 30 as well so that's a bonus, though I do think I mix him up in my head a bit with Memphis Depay.I believe paul_e was very keen on us bringing him in a few years back.
Quote from: LeeB on January 02, 2025, 11:25:56 AMI thought he was nearer 30 as well so that's a bonus, though I do think I mix him up in my head a bit with Memphis Depay.I believe paul_e was very keen on us bringing him in a few years back.Yep, I thought he was perfect for us when we were looking to stabilise into a midtable side. Since then we've improved a lot quicker than he has but he's got serious pace, is a good finisher and can play a few different positions. I'd say he's pretty similar to Diaby but a bit more robust so might not struggle so much with the physical side of the English game.If something around £20-22m is possible then I think he'd be good value for that.
Yep a £20-£25m fee on a five year contract is only about £4-5m for amortisation so if we can get some funds together to remain PSR compliant then all well and good.
Quote from: AV82EC on January 02, 2025, 11:49:03 AMYep a £20-£25m fee on a five year contract is only about £4-5m for amortisation so if we can get some funds together to remain PSR compliant then all well and good. If we're selling Barry as suggested then him going for £7-8m covers the cost of this for 24/25.
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