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Donyell Malen signs, Jhon Duran exit, key issue fixed - Aston Villa dream January transfer window

Donyell Malen of Borussia Dortmund
-Credit:Getty Images


The January transfer window is officially open for business, and now Aston Villa must make a quick decision over how seriously they are going to take it.

While many could have hoped for another storming season to re-qualify for the Champions League, that is not how it has turned out. The Premier League is simply so competitive that there is a six-point gap that separates fourth place and ninth.

Currently occupied by Chelsea, that fourth spot will guarantee qualification. Villa - sat eighth with 32 points as things stand - can hope that early projections prove true and that UEFA grant fifth place an extra chance at the Champions League.

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Last season, Unai Emery worked his magic to boost his part-inherited squad to success. That fed into the most recent summer transfer window, where he began to establish a personal imprint on the team with the major sales of Moussa Diaby and Douglas Luiz, then spent big on Amadou Onana and Ian Maatsen.

Also joining were Ross Barkley, Jaden Philogene, Samuel Iling-Junior, Enzo Barrenechea and Lewis Dobbin. With many of those deals made with one eye on the future, perhaps January will be the time to fix the here and now.

So, with that said, Birmingham Live has taken a look at what a dream transfer window would look like for Villa and Emery.

Incomings

Bar Maatsen at left-back, in the summer Villa paid lesser attention to their defence than other areas of the pitch. This is proven to have backfired with Pau Torres out now until at least March, while other members of the back line have given Emery difficulties through persistent injuries.

Matty Cash is one of those, and as the club's only senior right-back option, this is the primary issue that needs rectifying. The only problem is summer top target Lutsharel Geertruida ended up joining RB Leipzig.

Fresh reports are suggesting former Barcelona youth talent Oscar Mingueza is who attention have turned to. He would cost €20m (£16.5m), and as a versatile defender with a near-clean fitness record, it seems a sensible purchase.

Another area left for the winter to resolve was attack, as Diaby departed to Saudi Arabia with too little time to make more than a rash decision.

Borussia Dortmund's Donyell Malen has reportedly agreed terms to make the switch to Villa Park. A Dutch international, he has experience operating as a central striker or off the right, so he could be a suitable replacement for the 'Diaby role' operating alongside Ollie Watkins.

Both signings would provide the quality and cover Villa require this window, whilst most importantly keeping them within Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) parameters to ensure that problems are not incurred in a later window.

Outgoings

With that pesky PSR annoyance still loitering, Villa will be able to conduct the business they need to this month, but at the same time, it would greatly aid them to recoup some money from exits.

Their best assets to sell are homegrown players, who, when sold, will hand the club 'pure profit'. In Villa's case, seemingly top of the list is Jaden Philogene.

The winger had actually left permanently once already before re-signing for his boyhood club from Hull City during the summer. That deal was sealed ahead of Premier League rivals, including Everton, for £13m.

Now the Toffees are reportedly back in for Philogene, who Emery has said has not shown his full potential yet since returning. With similar attacking talents like Dobbin and Iling-Junior out on loan, this sale should not hurt Emery's squad too deeply - especially if Malen is to arrive.

After that, the last major question to answer is about Jhon Duran. The Colombian has been prolific, most often arriving from the bench but also when he has started over Watkins.

Barcelona have most recently been attributed with interest in a deal that would cost no less than €70m (£58m). Selling a key asset to a major European rival in January would be a self-inflicted punch to a gut, so any hint of an exit now needs squashing.

But that does not mean to say a different outlook should be taken when the next summer window arrives. Between seasons, if Villa can successfully negotiate such a high fee, then Emery and his peers will have a big decision to make.