Unai Emery has confirmed that Aston Villa is nearing the completion of a £21 million deal to sign Donyell Malen from Borussia Dortmund.
The Netherlands international is set to join for an initial fee of £19 million, a move that will also facilitate Jaden Philogene’s transfer to Ipswich for £21 million.
Villa remains interested in further signings to bolster their squad for the second half of the season. However, Emery acknowledged that new additions would depend on player departures to ensure compliance with profit and sustainability regulations.
Celta Vigo defender Oscar Mingueza is reportedly on Villa’s radar, though a potential transfer of Diego Carlos to Fenerbahce appears to be falling through.
“We are in the transfer window and we are trying to do some movements,” said Emery. “One of those movements is the possibility to sign Malen. In case Malen signs for us, it is close, we have to leave one player, which is Jaden [Philogene].
“We are alert and we want to always be ready to improve the squad with the players and, of course, sometimes some players want to leave us for different circumstances as well.
“We are moving forward with some circumstances like I am telling you from today until the last day of the window.
“If we are changing one player, Malen and Jaden, that’s the first. Maybe two or three players more, we can do another deal of some players leaving and some players joining us.”
Diego Carlos will miss Wednesday’s match against Everton due to injury. Ross Barkley (calf), John McGinn (hamstring), and Pau Torres (foot) are also sidelined.
Among the three, McGinn is the nearest to making a comeback but is expected to remain out for approximately another week.
