- Villa already have Ollie Watkins and Jhon Duran competing for the number nine spot
- Dortmund are willing to negotiate and want £25m with at least £16.5m upfront
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Aston Villa have made an improved offer of £15m plus add-ons for Borussia Dortmund's Donyell Malen as they look to sign the Netherlands international this month.
As Mail Sport revealed this week, Dortmund are willing to negotiate and want £25m in total from Villa with at least £16.5m upfront.
The 25-year-old striker is eager to play in the Premier League and join his former teammate Ian Maatsen, as the pair played together for Dortmund and the national team.
Malen can play in the forward line, predominantly on the right wing, and would give Villa extra pace, as well as depth and quality for Emery in attacking positions.
The West Midlands side already occupy the centre-forward spot with England international Ollie Watkins and hugely talented Jhon Duran vying for the number nine position.
Villa sit ninth in the Premier League after a slight relegation, but remain fifth in the Champions League and continue their good form after a memorable 1-0 win over Bayern Munich earlier in the campaign.
Aston Villa submitted an improved offer to Borussia Dortmund for striker Donyell Malen
The 25-year-old played four games at Euro 2024 and scored two goals against Romania in the round of 16.
The incorporation of Malen would give Unai Emery an extra depth and quality in attacking positions
Malen, a Dutch international, has 18 months left on his contract at the Westfalenstadion.
Malen started out in Ajax's academy before joining Arsenal, where he graduated through the youth team to the first team and participated in their pre-season tour to Australia in 2017, but was then sold in August to PSV Eindhoven.
He stood out in Holland, scoring 40 league goals in just over 80 appearances before being signed by Dortmund.
Malen has scored five goals this season, including one in Dortmund's 3-1 Bundesliga victory over Wolfsburg last weekend.