Aston Villa are in talks with Borussia Dortmund over a potential deal for forward Donyell Malen, according to David Ornstein, but TEAMtalk understands the move could yet be funded by a player exit or two.
The 2024/25 season has proven not to be an easy one for Villa, with the challenge of juggling a successful Premier League and Champions League season.
Unai Emery’s side have qualified for the next level of Europe’s elite club competition but are ninth in the English standings, six points behind fourth-placed Chelsea.
Villa have been looking for their frontline since the departure of Moussa Diaby in the summer, despite an impressive attacking force of Ollie Watkins and Jhon Duran.
Now, The Athletic’s Ornstein reports the Villans have bid £14.9m (€18m, $18.6m) plus add-ons for Dortmund’s Malen – but that falls short of the German team’s valuation.
But on a limited budget, our resources say some player sales would possibly be needed to fund Villa’s president of football operations Monchi’s war fund.
TEAMtalk move expert Fraser Gillan has been told through his resources at Villa that the club need not spend more than £25m (€30m, $31m) on Malen, who has scored 107 goals in his race, and that talks between Monchi and Dortmund have been going on for a week.
Villa are closely monitoring Brighton striker Evan Ferguson and Paris Saint-Germain striker Randal Kolo Muani, with contacts being established with the latter’s team.
Benfica defender Antonio Silva is the target, but his £82m (€98. 7m, $102m) release clause and the Portuguese side’s refusal to go too far below that value may only be a deal-breaker.
If Villa, who have been careful not to breach the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules, want to sign Malen, further sales may follow in the future.
PSG, Juventus and a host of Premier League sides are interested in Colombian star Duran, who is a high value asset, and defensive midfielder Boubacar Kamara is admired by Arsenal and Bayern Munich.
It would take more than £65m (€78. 3m, $80. 8m) to sign the Frenchman, but Villa are keen to stay with him and have the first talks on a new deal.
Villa and West Ham will reportedly take on Newcastle United for the signing of AC Milan Fikayo Tomori.
The centre-back has fallen out of favor with the Italian giants in recent months and, with the former Chelsea player set to return to the England squad, a move to the Premier League may be on the cards.
Villa linked up with Rashford towards the end of Erik ten Hag’s tenure at Manchester United in late October, but that cooled over time.
But with Emery’s side now chasing Malen, a possible exit for the 25-year-old could lead Dortmund to expand their interest in Rashford.
Finally, Championship promotion hopefuls Leeds United look set to fail in their efforts to sign playmaker Emi Buendia in January.