Aston Villa finalise £21m signing of Borussia Dortmund star Donyell Malen – as German club accept improved bid for the Dutch forward

Aston Villa are closing in on signing Borussia Dortmund forward Donyell Malen for £21million.

Mail Sport first reported last month that Villa had reignited their interest in the Dutch forward.

Negotiations between the two clubs have been ongoing throughout the month after Villa’s opening £15m plus bonuses offer fell short of the £25m fee the Bundesliga outfit are looking to receive. 

Mail Sport then revealed in December that Unai Emery‘s side had submitted an improved £21m offer for the 25-year-old, and Dortmund have deemed that to be at an acceptable level.

Malen can play across the front line, predominantly on the right wing, and would give Villa extra pace plus depth and quality for Emery in attacking positions as they look to qualify for the Champions League for the second successive season. 

The Netherlands international has 18 months remaining on his contract at the Westfalenstadion and Dortmund have been open to selling him in January.

Aston Villa are closing in on the £21million signing of Borussia Dortmund star Donyell Malen

Negotiations between the two clubs continue after Villa’s opening £15million plus bonuses offer fell short of the £25m fee the Bundesliga outfit are looking to receive

Meanwhile, Villa are also locked in talks with PSG with the French giants keen on Jhon Duran

Malen also has a strong rapport with Villa left-back Ian Maatsen, the two having played together at Dortmund and through the national team set-up. 

The Dutchman started out in Ajax’s academy before joining Arsenal where he graduated through the youth team into the first team reckoning and figured in their pre-season tour to Australia in 2017 but was then sold that August to PSV Eindhoven.

He excelled in Holland, scoring 40 league goals in just over 80 appearances before being snapped up by Dortmund.

Villa are exploring terms as they try to strengthen Emery’s squad this month, with the possibility of up to three additions in January.

Winger Jadon Philogene is expected to join Ipswich Town for £22million, just six months after Villa re-signed him from Hull City.

Malen has scored five goals this season in 21 appearances, while he has also netted nine times in 41 caps for his country.

Villa, who beat West Ham 2-1 in the FA Cup third round on Friday night, currently sit eighth in the Premier League, four points off the top four.

They return to action on Wednesday when they travel to Everton in what will be David Moyes’ first game in charge of the Toffees since returning to Goodison Park over the weekend. 

Aston Villa’s next test comes against Everton, with David Moyes (above) set for his second spell in charge of the Toffees after replacing Sean Dyche as manager at Goodison Park

Everton, meanwhile, are weighing up a move for Lyon forward Ernest Nuamah in January

The Merseyside club are themselves considering a move for Lyon winger Ernest Nuamah who was offered to them last summer. 

The 21-year-old has also attracted interest from Fulham, who Mail Sport reported earlier this season saw a move fall through at the 11th hour while the player was having a medical last summer.

Nuamah’s route from Ghana to Europe was a familiar one, joining Nordsjaelland in Denmark thanks to their partnership with the Right to Dream Academy in his home country.