In an interview with a Dutch media Voetbal ZoneBorussia Dortmund forward Donyell Malen has revealed his dream of playing for the first division with Arsenal.
The 25-year-old has been linked with a summer exit from Bundesliga heavyweights and BILD reported he could be sold for up to £43 million.
speaking to Voetbal ZoneMalen has now confessed that he dreams of playing in the English top flight and wants to return to Arsenal, having failed to make the senior team as a teenager.
He said: “I think, as I played in England when I was young, it is a dream to play in the Premier League. I think it's a beautiful dream. I went to Arsenal (when I was younger), so yeah, them. “I love Arsenal, my favorite club.”
“I played there in my youth, I really wanted to make my way there. From time to time in a football career there are moments when a decision has to be made. Yes, I was training with the first team and I was 17, 18 years old at the time.
“I took steps in the right direction, but I thought I had to play professional football. “I also watched my teammates play professional soccer while I was still playing youth soccer and I knew (leaving) was the right thing to do.”
Backup election
Malen is currently in his third season with Dortmund, but there is talk of him leaving the club in the summer. The 25-year-old started the campaign inconsistently but has improved in recent months. The striker has registered 12 goals and 4 assists in 30 appearances for the German giants.
Most of his goal involvements came from the right flank, where Arsenal may look for a new backup option. Bukayo Saka He has been sensational in charge with 16 goals and 13 assists, but there have been no reinforcements from the bench, with Reiss Nelson scoring just 1 goal in his 21 games for the London team.
Malen could be the answer for the deputy role behind Saka. The one-time Arsenal graduate could also do a similar job from the left wing, where he has played 81 times in his carrer. He is already capable of performing as a centre-forward, where most of his success came at PSV Eindhoven before his move to German football.
With his ability to play in three different attacking positions, Arsenal could come close to signing him again from Dortmund. The main question is whether the Dutch star will accept a reduced starting role with the Gunners, having averaged 66 minutes per league game during his time at Dortmund.
