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Medical ‘booked’ for second Aston Villa January transfer as swoop ‘made’ for top striker

Unai Emery, manager of Aston Villa
-Credit:Alex Livesey - Danehouse/Getty Images


Unai Emery has shown his hand in the January market with Aston Villa agreeing a fee for Borussia Dortmund star Donyell Malen.

Villa’s interest in the winger had been rumoured for some time and the Dutchman is thought to have agreed personal terms a while ago. Malen is framed as being a versatile attacker, and one that can play in several positions across the frontline.

The club’s transfer activity might yet still have a few twists and turns to come. The Villans are said to be closing in on a second signing while one European giant has supposedly taken a keen interest in in-form striker Jhon Duran.

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Medical ‘booked’ for teenager

Young centre-back Yasin Ozcan, 18, of Turkish club Kasimpasa is said to be preparing for his Villa medical in the coming days. Reports from Turkey [via Inside Futbol] claim the health checks could be staged as early Tuesday.

Villa are apparently set to agree a deal worth just under £7million in total for the teenager, who was called up by Turkey for a second time in November having yet to make his senior international debut. It is thought that, if he is signed, he will finish the season at Kasimpasa on loan.

BirminghamLive says: Ozcan has already made 77 senior appearances despite his young age, having made his debut in 2022 aged 16.

Born in 2006, Ozcan is among the next wave of European talent that have been schooled on being accomplished with passing and ball control as well as the basics of defending.

PSG ‘accelerate’ Duran pursuit

A report from French outlet Foot Mercato says Paris Saint-Germain are planning to speed up their chase of Duran, having made their initial interest concrete. The Ligue 1 champions may even table personal terms to the player in the coming week, it claims.

The report moots that Duran is interested in a move to Paris and that PSG could act on that in quick time. It’s not thought the arrival of Malen has any direct connection with a potential exit for Duran.

BirminghamLive says: Unless a truly irresistible offer arrives from PSG, it’s hard to see Villa allowing Duran to leave this month. The 21-year-old is the club’s top scorer and has many more years to offer.

Plus, he only signed a renewal a year ago that keeps him at Villa Park until 2030, so he therefore would be a costly acquisition for any size of club. The reaction from fans, and teammates, if he was allowed to go at this point in the season is undoubtedly also a huge factor for Villa to consider too.

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