Aston Villa have reportedly struck a personal agreement with Borussia Dortmund forward Donyell Malen, but are yet to find a resolution with the Bundesliga club.

Malen has failed to cement his place as an established starter under Nuri Sahin this season, coming off the bench for half of his 20 appearances across all competitions.

Yet despite racking up fewer than 1,000 minutes during the first five months of the campaign, only two Dortmund players have outscored the Dutch international this season. Malen was reportedly put on the club’s ‘strikelist’ of unwanted players in November.

Before breaking through at PSV Eindhoven, Malen spent time at Arsenal’s academy and has previously expressed a willingness to return to north London. Liverpool have also been linked with the 25-year-old, but Premier League rivals Aston Villa appear to be edging towards a permanent deal.

Ben Jacobs reported that Unai Emery’s side had “verbally agreed terms” with Malen, but there was no “club-to-club agreement”. Dortmund have supposedly demanded a €30m (£25m) fee for the forward, who has a contract at the club until 2026.

Villa are expected to be active in the winter transfer window after a busy summer. Emery’s Champions League chasers are one of several sides vying for the signature of Paris Saint-Germain’s exiled striker Randal Kolo Muani and are also thought to be interested in Eintracht Frankfurt’s Omar Marmoush – a £50m target for Manchester City and Liverpool.

Emery is clearly not content with the club’s forward options after failing to replace Moussa Diaby following his move to Saudi Arabia six months ago.

However, much like in the summer, Villa’s incomings have to be balanced by sales. Academy graduate Jaden Philogene, who only returned to the Midlands in an £18m deal in July, is reportedly the subject of interest from Everton this month.

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