Aston Villa have held talks with Borussia Dortmund over a potential deal for Donyell Malen and are set to open contract negotiations with Boubacar Kamara.

Villa are exploring a £25 million deal for Malen, the Netherlands international, with Unai Emery identifying a new winger as a priority for the January transfer window.

Malen, 25, has found first-team opportunities difficult to come by this season and Dortmund are open to selling him in the winter market.

One source has told Telegraph Sport that Malen is Villa’s No 1 target in the position, though another source said there are other players being monitored.

However, Villa have held discussions over a deal and are interested in signing the former PSV Eindhoven wide man, who also had two years with Arsenal’s academy as a youngster — though he left the north London club a year before Emery replaced Arsène Wenger.

Villa are considering other additions but regard the future of Kamara as another top priority to address.

Kamara, the France international, has proved crucial for Emery since his return from a knee injury and Villa will look to instigate contract talks in the near future. The former Marseille midfielder has more than two years left on his current deal but Villa are fully aware of his importance and intend to reward him with improved terms.

Villa have received a number of offers for winger Jaden Philogene but have made it clear that he is not for sale. Philogene is expected to leave this month but Villa will entertain only loan offers for the 22-year-old, who was re-signed in the summer after an impressive season in the Championship at Hull City.

Meanwhile, Villa will look to loan out striker Louie Barry in this window after recalling him from an outstanding spell at Stockport County. Barry has interest from a number of Championship clubs and Villa are prepared to loan him out for the second half of the season.

Speaking after Villa’s 2-2 draw with Brighton last Monday, Emery admitted he would like to improve the squad to maintain their momentum while acknowledging 2024 had been a hugely positive year for the club.

“Our overall thinking how we are finishing the year, of course we have to be proud of everything we did,” Emery said.

“Now we have 29 points, with 31 we were closer to be in the European positions. We have to accept it and try to start again improving things. We finish the first part of the season with 29 points, it’s not the best but not the worst. This league is very tight and we have to try to improve and correct why we are conceding a lot of goals.”