Aston Villa explore other options after £14.9m transfer news from David Ornstein
Aston Villa are exploring alternative options after having a £14.9million offer for Borussia Dortmund’s Donyell Malen rejected, according to David Ornstein.
The Athletic journalist reported [2 January] that Villa’s bid, including add-ons, for the 25-year-old forward fell short of Dortmund’s valuations as negotiations continue between the clubs.
Unai Emery’s side are seeking to strengthen the squad with a versatile attacker during the January transfer window, with different options now being explored also.
Aston Villa to seek new attacker in January transfer window
Villa are performing extremely well in the Champions League, sitting fifth in the table above the likes of Inter Milan, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid.
However, it seems that their European exerts have meant a drop in form in the Premier League, dropping to ninth in the table below Bournemouth and Fulham.
Emery’s squad seems to have dealt multiple injury blows so far this season, with Leon Bailey and Jacob Ramsey spending plenty of time on the sidelines.
Therefore, a forward signing in January seems like a sensible decision, hoping to add a bit more dynamism to the attacking duo of Ollie Watkins and Jhon Duran.
Bailey has failed to hit the same heights he reached last season, leaving Watkins, Duran and Morgan Rogers as the only players to score over five goals in the league this term.
And while Malen has limited experience in England after leaving the Arsenal academy in 2017, it would certainly be an interesting character to bring to the Premier League.
With 39 goals and 20 assists in 131 appearances for Dortmund, he would definitely add some much-needed firepower to Villa’s forward line ahead of the second half of the season.
In other Aston Villa news, an update has emerged on Ezri Konsa after a development over the past few weeks.
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