{"id":3264,"date":"2026-05-02T16:03:38","date_gmt":"2026-05-02T16:03:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=3264"},"modified":"2026-05-02T16:03:38","modified_gmt":"2026-05-02T16:03:38","slug":"man-utd-ready-to-take-plunge-on-ex-premier-league-star-after-hot-streak-in-front-of-goal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=3264","title":{"rendered":"Man Utd &#8216;ready to take plunge&#8217; on ex-Premier League star after hot streak in front of goal"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"article-body\">\n<h2 class=\"LeadText_lead-text__wd_PA __className_5f510e\" data-testid=\"leadtext\">Donyell Malen has emerged as a transfer target for Manchester United, Chelsea and Newcastle United after his display on loan at AS Roma<\/h2>\n<p><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX ImageEmbed_image-lead__Ti3qQ\" data-testid=\"leadimage\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37102428\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Former Aston Villa star Donyell Malen has emerged of transfer interest to Manchester United\" loading=\"eager\" sizes=\"(max-width: 508px) 508px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37102428.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_Malen-Murillo.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37102428.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s508\/0_Malen-Murillo.jpg 508w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37102428.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615\/0_Malen-Murillo.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37102428.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_Malen-Murillo.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Former Aston Villa star Donyell Malen has emerged of transfer interest to Manchester United\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Former Aston Villa star Donyell Malen has emerged of transfer interest to Manchester United<cite aria-label=\"Image: (Photo by Neville Williams\/Aston Villa FC via Getty Images)\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: (Photo by Neville Williams\/Aston Villa FC via Getty Images))<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The Serie A outfit have an option to purchase him for between \u20ac25million (\u00a321.6m) and \u20ac30million (\u00a325.9m) which is anticipated to be triggered. Despite this, United, Chelsea and Newcastle United are &#8216;the big clubs watching&#8217; and weighing up a move, according to a Corriere dello Sport report.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">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.<\/p>\n<p><span data-testid=\"readmore\" class=\"ReadMore_readmore-prefix__xS44r __className_0548ba\">READ MORE<!-- -->: <span class=\"ReadMore_readmore-link__eF9pN\">Man Utd news: McTominay&#8217;s heart as could be broken as transfer gets green light<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<article class=\"Teaser_teaser__XImzE OpinionTeaser_teaser-opinion__u0ZfS\" data-testid=\"opinion-teaser\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37092320\">\n<div class=\"Teaser_cover-wrapper__VVV7O\" data-testid=\"opinion-teaser-image\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37092295.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s540\/0_FBL-ENG-PR-LIVERPOOL-MAN-UTD.jpg 540w\" media=\"undefined\" data-testid=\"source-element\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37092295.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s650\/0_FBL-ENG-PR-LIVERPOOL-MAN-UTD.jpg 650w\" media=\"undefined\" data-testid=\"source-element\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37092295.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s948\/0_FBL-ENG-PR-LIVERPOOL-MAN-UTD.jpg 948w\" media=\"undefined\" data-testid=\"source-element\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37092295.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s650\/0_FBL-ENG-PR-LIVERPOOL-MAN-UTD.jpg\"\/><\/picture>\n<p><label data-testid=\"label\" class=\"Label_label__pFaDj Label_secondary__nOPjT label--section-color\"><span data-testid=\"label-text\" class=\"Label_text__tRLWj\">OPINION<\/span><\/label><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"OpinionTeaser_content-wrapper__TVVPL OpinionTeaser_large__m6_Lk\">\n<div data-testid=\"teaser-author\" class=\"TeaserAuthor_author__h_bIR TeaserAuthor_large__QjYde\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36784202.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s338a\/0_IMG_56s6hc.jpg\" alt=\"Author avatar\"\/><span class=\"TeaserAuthor_author-name__YmKL2\">Amie Wilson<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">From Villa&#8217;s standpoint, it is seemingly already concluded with Unai Emery delivering a Malen verdict earlier this week. He said: &#8220;It&#8217;s a loan with an option to buy, which Roma will exercise given his results. And for that reason, I&#8217;d like to say again that I&#8217;m very happy for him, because he&#8217;s a good guy and a good player.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;Here he faced competition from Watkins, so he played less for that reason, and I thought he should play more as a striker.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">FOLLOW OUR MAN UTD FB PAGE!<\/strong><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\"> <\/strong><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\"><u>Latest United news and more on our dedicated Facebook page<\/u><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;He sometimes played alongside Watkins, so I think he&#8217;s finding the perfect spot at Roma and has played every game to exploit his qualities and score goals. I&#8217;m very happy for him because he&#8217;s also a good guy. And I hope he continues to score goals.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Malen&#8217;s goals have helped Roma remain in contention to secure European football for next season, with Gian Piero Gasperini&#8217;s side sitting sixth, which currently represents a Conference League qualification spot.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Four fixtures of their campaign remain, with Roma just a handful of points adrift of Juventus and Como but comfortably ahead of Atalanta.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-37102380\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37102380\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Donyell Malen of AS Roma reacts\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37102380.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_GettyImages-2273105987.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37102380.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_GettyImages-2273105987.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37102380.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_GettyImages-2273105987.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37102380.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_GettyImages-2273105987.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Donyell Malen has been in fine form for AS Roma\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Donyell Malen has been in fine form for AS Roma<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Interest from Chelsea and Newcastle, given their struggles in front of goal, is understandable \u2014 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 \u00a3193million.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Those three forwards have proved central to United&#8217;s impressive season, with the latter pair netting decisive goals in back-to-back victories over Chelsea and Brentford.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Following his match-winning strike at Stamford Bridge, Cunha sat out Monday&#8217;s triumph over the Bees with injury, though he has since been spotted back in training and is expected to feature against Liverpool.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Three points against Arne Slot&#8217;s side would secure Champions League football for next season, though defeat on Sunday would see them slip below their fiercest rivals.<\/p>\n<div class=\"AffiliateContentsEmbed_affiliate-contents-container__oTiet\" data-testid=\"affiliate-contents-embed\">\n<div data-testid=\"affiliate-content\" class=\"AffiliateContent_affiliate-content-container__10EX_ affiliate-content\">\n<p>Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package<\/p>\n<div class=\"AffiliateDisclaimer_affiliate-disclaimer__dG5ST\">\n<div class=\"AffiliateDisclaimer_affiliate-text__8nmDa\">This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"AffiliateContent_section-container__JMDzM AffiliateContent_content-details__U6C2M AffiliateContent_has-content-img___LY95\">\n<div class=\"AffiliateContent_section-content__QCkL9\">\n<div class=\"AffiliateContent_content-image__FxPNL\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Content Image\" fetchpriority=\"auto\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article33404045.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s510b\/0_Sky-Factbox.jpg\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"AffiliateContent_section-container__JMDzM\">\n<div id=\"product-description\" class=\"AffiliateContent_section-content__QCkL9\">\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside <!-- -->Formula 1, darts and golf.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Donyell Malen has emerged as a transfer target for Manchester United, Chelsea and Newcastle United&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3265,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pagelayer_contact_templates":[],"_pagelayer_content":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3264","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-chelsea"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3264","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3264"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3264\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3265"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3264"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3264"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3264"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}