Man Utd ‘ready to take plunge’ on ex-Premier League star after hot streak in front of goal
Donyell Malen has emerged as a transfer target for Manchester United, Chelsea and Newcastle United after his display on loan at AS Roma
Former Aston Villa star Donyell Malen has emerged of transfer interest to Manchester United(Image: (Photo by Neville Williams/Aston Villa FC via Getty Images))
Manchester United are one of three Premier League sides linked with a transfer move for Donyell Malen. The 27-year-old joined AS Roma on loan from Aston Villa in January and has made a superb impact in Italy with 11 goals in 14 appearances.
The Serie A outfit have an option to purchase him for between €25million (£21.6m) and €30million (£25.9m) which is anticipated to be triggered. Despite this, United, Chelsea and Newcastle United are ‘the big clubs watching’ and weighing up a move, according to a Corriere dello Sport report.
They have suggested that the consensus is that he is already valued at twice the minimum fee Roma could pay. However, there is no intention to sell from their viewpoint with their owners, the Friedkins, due in the city this week to authorise the transfer.
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From Villa’s standpoint, it is seemingly already concluded with Unai Emery delivering a Malen verdict earlier this week. He said: “It’s a loan with an option to buy, which Roma will exercise given his results. And for that reason, I’d like to say again that I’m very happy for him, because he’s a good guy and a good player.
“Here he faced competition from Watkins, so he played less for that reason, and I thought he should play more as a striker.
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“He sometimes played alongside Watkins, so I think he’s finding the perfect spot at Roma and has played every game to exploit his qualities and score goals. I’m very happy for him because he’s also a good guy. And I hope he continues to score goals.”
Malen’s goals have helped Roma remain in contention to secure European football for next season, with Gian Piero Gasperini’s side sitting sixth, which currently represents a Conference League qualification spot.
Four fixtures of their campaign remain, with Roma just a handful of points adrift of Juventus and Como but comfortably ahead of Atalanta.
Interest from Chelsea and Newcastle, given their struggles in front of goal, is understandable — but links between Malen and Old Trafford are somewhat puzzling given the enormous outlay on attacking talent last summer, with Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha arriving for a combined £193million.
Those three forwards have proved central to United’s impressive season, with the latter pair netting decisive goals in back-to-back victories over Chelsea and Brentford.
Following his match-winning strike at Stamford Bridge, Cunha sat out Monday’s triumph over the Bees with injury, though he has since been spotted back in training and is expected to feature against Liverpool.
Three points against Arne Slot’s side would secure Champions League football for next season, though defeat on Sunday would see them slip below their fiercest rivals.
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