Donyell Malen of AS Roma
Donyell Malen of AS Roma(Image: Getty)
Donyell Malen has been one of the best signings any team has made in Europe this year, with the former Aston Villa striker enjoying the form of his life with Roma in Italy.
When Malen left Villa back in January, it brought an end to his 12-month stay at the club, having joined from Borussia Dortmund, where he hadn’t been particularly prolific.
Villa manager Unai Emery didn’t think he suited his team well enough to be relied upon as a centre-forward, nor did he fit the system on the right, which is another role he had played during his short Premier League stay.
Malen was keen to leave Villa during last season’s winter window as he wanted guaranteed minutes as a number nine, and a move to Serie A appealed to him.
But nobody, not even Malen, could have expected his output to be this impressive, with the forward scoring 21 goals in just 26 matches across all competitions so far for Roma. In fact, this season, where he has proven that he wasn’t just a flash in the pan, he has bagged six goals in five league games.
FOLLOW OUR FACEBOOK PAGE! Get more news and AVFC analysis via our Aston Villa FB page
In the second half of last season, Malen scored 14 times in the league and once in the Europa League, with his goals firing Roma up to third in Serie A and securing qualification for the Champions League.
After signing for Roma for around £23 million, Malen’s value has reportedly sky-rocketed following his tremendous form under Gian Piero Gasperini.
Analysts at the CIES Football Observatory have estimated that his current transfer value could be in the region of £60 million.
There are only a small number of clubs in European football that could have the flexibility to spend that much on a player, mostly from the Premier League. But after failing to prove himself to Emery in the English top flight, potential suitors could have concerns over whether he can translate his form in Italy to another league.
Get YOUR Aston Villa Newsletter