Overview
- Multiple outlets report an agreement for an initial loan with a mandatory summer purchase, with a loan fee of about £2m (€2.3m) and a final payment reported in the £25m–€28.8m range.
- Villa have authorised Malen to travel to Italy for medical tests as part of the move, according to Fabrizio Romano and Italian reports.
- Some reports cite a higher overall outlay of just over €31m, indicating that final official figures remain subject to confirmation.
- Malen pushed for the switch to secure regular minutes after limited starts under Unai Emery, with Ollie Watkins preferred as the central striker.
- Roma advanced for Malen after exploring other forwards and progressing a deal for Marseille prospect Robinio Vaz, while Villa weigh wider attacking changes including uncertainty over Leon Bailey’s loan.