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Aston Villa are closing in on a move for Borussia Dortmund winger Donyell Malen, with reports suggesting Villa have agreed a fee with the Bundesliga outfit.
They are doing so at a time when Unai Emery is looking to strengthen his options in attack, particularly with Jaden Philogene set to depart the club for Ipswich Town and with Leon Bailey yet to hit the heights of last season.
The link with Malen emerged a few weeks ago and it turns out to have all the hallmarks of a live move that mere speculation, with his career path in the right direction in those days of exaggerated fees and profitability regulations and sustainability regulations, may be a genuine deal for Villa.
We spoke to Borussia Dortmund Blogger, Podcaster and Fan Ben McFadyean, who gave us Malen.
You can find more information about Ben’s work, follow the BVB FANCLUB here and follow your podcast here.
BM: Since he arrived at PSV Eindhoven in the 21/22 season, the Dutch-Surinamese right end, which can play as a central one, has played 93 games with Die Schwarz-Gelben. Malen scored 30 goals.
He was out for 3 months at the end of season 21/22 due to unspecified muscle issues, but he has otherwise been largely injury-free.
Malen came to update Jadon Sancho, who was a great request since the English end was a night sensation and one of the most effective players in dressing in black and yellow. Joining the pandemic was a complicated era for all players. At first, Donyell had trouble causing a good impression and there were doubts about his ability to make a difference. In the second part of the season he showed more of his skills, scoring five goals and giving five assists.
The next season, Donny, who can also play on the left wing, still showed his qualities sometimes, however, ultimately, his end was that problem. He scored nine goals and played 27 games, adding a circular hat a 3-1 victory in Hoffenheim. Last season, he took a step forward to the thirteen in 27 games and was the maximum prolific scorer in the BVB striker of Niclas Fullkrug, who joined West Ham, the summer movement window.
BM: The biggest reason for the complaints about Donyell has been his finishing. Although he has been a good contributor at creating opportunities, he has a career average expected goals ratio of 0.14 per shot.
It can also be said that after Erling Haaland, who played for BVB between 20 and 22 years and scored 62 times in 67 games, expectations weighed heavily on attacks in attack, Donny added. No player came close to the Norwegian purpose relationship.
Strikers who have struggled are Sébastien Haller, Youssoufa Moukoko, Anthony Modeste, Paris Brunner and Nic Fullkrug over the past two seasons, leading to all of their transfers. A lot about Donyell. However, despite his progress last season, Donny failed to achieve the form that saw him score 19 goals for PSV Eindhoven in 20/21, the year the club won the Dutch-Down Cup.
Aston Villa have released a special commemorative kit to celebrate the club’s anniversary, and now you can get one.
The club continues its birthday party on Friday night when Unai Emery’s team receives West Ham in the FA Cup. To commemorate the match, which turns approximately 150 on the day of the first registered game, players will wear an exclusive black kit.
It’s the colour Villa first used for their kits before the transition to claret and blue colours. The shirts will also feature adidas’ Aeroready technology as well as the famous three stripes in all black.
Buy your commemorative Villa kit HERE
BM: Donyell, who played with Justin Kluivert and Matthijs de Ligt at the Ajax Education Center, undoubtedly assigned through the acquisition via BVB of the incredibly effective Center Center Serhou Guirassy, a definitive sign of preference of the club to recover Haaland’s replacement
So far, that investment has proven to be one with nine targets achieved in the early part of the season. Jamie Gittens’ remarkable advancement on the wing of Jamie Gittens degland U21 on the wing has also limited Donyell’s chances this season.
BM: The player has been making noises about wanting to move to the English game for some time; BVB needs to strengthen the defence in particular and Nuri Sahin is having issues with central defender Niclas Suele and left-back Ramy Bensebaini both out injured.
The club is missing a defensive leader away from home since the departure of Mats Hummels.
Although the club has made an overall profit, a feat that BVB has achieved every year and every year beyond ten years, the transfer balance is lately at a deficit of €46m, which, according to Dortmund’s criteria, is a source of concern. The club will only make a main signing if it manages to sell. Aston Villa’s interest in the former PSV Eindhoven player is well timed for BVB.
BM: Donyell is known for his speed and agility and is a link that can locate gaps and place bullets. She will join former BVB player Ian Maattsen, with whom she is known to be in a relationship. You will also meet Leon Bailey from his time as an opponent of Bayer Leverkusen.
He speaks better English, like the top Dutch players. Villa has a history of effectively integrating Dutch players, adding Ron Vlaar, Anwar al-Ghazi, George Boateng and Wilfred Bouma, in the past.
Unai Emery has a history of successfully developing players like Gabriele Martinelli and Bernd Leno at Arsenal and Ollie Watkins and Douglas Luiz at Villa; if he can get more consistent performances, including improved defensive engagement, from the Dutchman, at 25, Donny could end up looking like a snip, especially by Premier League standards, at £10m beneath his current transfer market value.
BM: Donyell is also known to be a keen angler, one of England’s most popular pastimes, so he should be a good match in the heart of England.