by Aston Villa have agreed a deal with Borussia Dortmund to sign striker Donyell Malen for an initial fee of £20 million.
Unai Emery is set to make the Dutchman, a long-time target, his first signing of the year. Dortmund announced that Malen would miss Tuesday’s Bundesliga trip to Holstein Kiel to “talk with another club”.
Emery admires strikers who can play in multiple positions and Malen, who won 41 caps for the Netherlands, will strengthen his front line of Ollie Watkins, Jhon Durán, Morgan Rogers and Leon Bailey. Malen has scored five goals in 21 appearances for Dortmund this season.
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Emery was lured by Rogers, a revelation after his arrival from Middlesbrough last January in a £15 million deal, thanks in part to his versatility. Malen was an influential part of the Dortmund team that reached the Champions League final last season, in which Villa summer signing Ian Maatsen also played.
Villa plan to bring in a few more signings, with Celta Vigo full-back Óscar Mingueza another priority target. Villa’s president of football operations Monchi was in Spain last week to monitor the 25-year-old defender. The Spain international would provide competition for Matty Cash and potentially allow Kosta Nedeljkovic to leave on loan.
Villa could face a tricky decision regarding Durán if European heavyweights such as Paris-Saint-Germain crystallize their interest in the Colombian striker. Durán is reportedly demanding a huge fee after scoring 12 goals in 26 games this season.
Villa winger Jaden Philogene, who returned this summer from Hull, is set to leave this month, with Ipswich front-runners to sign him. Diego Carlos, one of the club’s top earners, is in talks for a move to Fenerbahce. Offloading Carlos would help Villa comply with profitability and sustainability regulations.
Chelsea are asking for more than £20 million to sell Renato Veigawho is wanted by Dortmund on loan with an option to buy.
Veiga, who can play at left-back, centre-back or central midfield, is keen for a new challenge despite joining Chelsea for £12m from FC Basel on last summer. The 21-year-old, who has reportedly agreed a deal with Dortmund, has made seven Premier League appearances and is keen to return to regular football.
It is believed that Veiga’s desire to leave is partly due to his aim of securing a place in Portugal’s squad for the 2026 World Cup. However, Chelsea do not want to loan him out and are adamant they will not consider than a permanent agreement. The club could turn a profit if Veiga, who is also linked with Napoli, is sold.
This could still pose a risk, however, given that Veiga covers Marc Cucurella at left-back. Ben Chilwell is no longer in favor and will be allowed to leave, although a firm interest in the England left-back is yet to materialize. Chelsea could need a new replacement for Cucurella if Veiga leaves.
Enzo Maresca, Chelsea’s head coach, acknowledged Veiga’s situation ahead of Tuesday’s home game against Bournemouth. Maresca left the youngster out of the squad for last month’s Championship match against Fulham for ‘technical reasons’.
Veiga only started one league match and was mainly used in cup competitions. He started at left-back as Chelsea beat Morecambe 5-0 in the FA Cup on Saturday and has been a regular in the Europa Conference League.
Chelsea are open to sales and could also allow the departures of midfielders Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Carney Chukwuemeka. Dewsbury-Hall joined Leicester last summer and is attracting interest from West Ham. Chukwuemeka has a £40m buyout clause but Chelsea have opened the door to a loan move, with Dortmund his most likely destination. Monaco inquired about the midfielder and Milan followed. Chukwuemeka has no interest in moving to Chelsea’s sister club Strasbourg.
Money raised from sales could help Chelsea fund the transfer of a centre-back, with Crystal Palace’s Marc Guéhi in their sights. There are also doubts over the future of French striker Christopher Nkunku and Axel Disasi is another player who could leave, with the defender not part of Maresca’s long-term plans.
Western Ham have added Nottingham Forest’s Taiwo Awoniyi to their list of striker targets. Graham Potter is in desperate need of attacking reinforcements with Niclas Füllkrug out for three months with a hamstring injury and Awoniyi emerging as an option.
The London club requested a loan move for the Forest striker but a permanent deal was discussed. Forest want £20million for the 27-year-old Nigerian, who lost his place to Chris Wood.
