Aston Villa increase bid for “unstoppable” Diaby replacement

Aston Villa have had a patchy first half of their Premier League marketing campaign, leaving them eighth within the division after 20 video games performed. The Villains have received 9 occasions, drawn 5 and misplaced six, sitting on 32 factors, simply 4 factors off a prime 4 spot.

Unai Emery’s facet additionally sit fifth within the UEFA Champions League standings, with two video games left to play within the group stage of this competitors. January might be an necessary month for Villa, as a way to finest equip them for the second half of the season, to compete on all fronts.

One space Emery may look to strengthen is his huge forwards, having misplaced Moussa Diaby in the summertime, who did supply one thing completely different when taking part in in huge areas, in addition to the sale of summer time signing Jaden Philogene, who did not reside as much as expectations.

Aston Villa switch information

In keeping with studies from Sky Sports activities Information, Aston Villa have elevated their bid to signal Borussia Dortmund ahead, Donyell Malen.

Negotiations are anticipated to proceed, as Villa’s new supply is claimed to be round £21m, while Dortmund need nearer to £25m.

Tottenham are one other workforce who’ve been linked to a transfer for Malen in current days, however Villa appear to be forward within the race for the 25-year-old ahead, already having a bid rejected earlier within the window.

Malen has made 21 appearances in all competitions this season, scoring 5 objectives, offering one help and totalling 957 minutes performed thus far.

Aston Villa’s excellent Diaby substitute

The 25-year-old – who has been labelled “unstoppable” up to now by Jacek Kulig – may symbolize the right substitute for Moussa Diaby, ought to he finally make the transfer from Dortmund.

After signing within the 2023 summer time switch window from Bayer Leverkusen, Diaby was bought to Saudi Professional League facet, Al Ittihad, within the 2024 summer time switch window, for a price of round £50m. The Frenchman made 54 appearances for the membership, scoring ten objectives, offering 9 assists and totaling 3,144 minutes performed.

Diaby was used as a flexible attacker for Emery final season, making appearances as a centre-forward, an attacking midfielder, off the best and off the left. Malen may present comparable versatility while additionally offering an identical toolset to Diaby on this Villa facet.

Since Diaby left the membership, Villa have lacked a few of their transitional menace, utilizing the outlet of Diaby to stretch groups and blend up their development routes. He additionally offered good output in his first and solely season, scoring 0.30 objectives per 90 and offering 0.27 assists per 90.

While Malen has worse development numbers, he would supply the identical outlet tendencies along with his working energy in behind, additionally bringing an identical degree of output, scoring 0.39 objectives per 90 this season and offering 0.23 assists per 90. To not point out, the Dutchman additionally brings the next shot quantity and completes extra profitable take-ons.

Thus far this season, Malen has proven his versatility throughout the Dortmund entrance line, taking part in off each the left and proper, in addition to by means of the center at occasions.

This versatility blended with the tempo and energy he gives in transition would enable Villa to successfully exchange Diaby, maybe six-months later than deliberate.