Aston Villa boss Unai Emery says his club won't complete a deal for Borussia Dortmund forward Donyell Malen until Jaden Philogene’s move to Ipswich Town is finalised.

Villa reportedly agreed a £20m deal for 22-year-old Dutch international Malen yesterday, with Ipswich having struck a £20m plus add-ons fee for winger Philogene last week.

It's understood that Philogene has passed his medical and agreed a four-and-a-half-year contract, but that there are still some details relating to the switch which need finalising.

“We are playing Everton tomorrow that’s the most important,” said Emery, when when quizzed on the situation with Malen at his pre-match press conference.

“But, of course, we are in the transfer window and we are trying to do some movement and we have the possibility to sign Malen. It’s close. We have to try to leave one player and that’s Jaden.”

Asked whether his club would be doing any further business, Emery continued: “We are alert. We want always to be ready to improve our squad with the players. Of course, some players want to leave us for different circumstances as well.

“We are moving forward like I am telling you. If we have change in one player, like Jaden and Malen, then maybe two or three players more.”

Philogene has long been a Town target. Kieran McKenna eyed the England Under-21 international in the summer of 2023 following the Blues' promotion to the Championship, but the he ended up moving from Aston Villa to Hull City.

In July last year, the Blues agreed a £35m deal with the Tigers for Philogene and team-mate Jacob Greaves. The double deal got close to completion before Villa activated the 'matching rights' clause they included as part of Philogene's sale the previous summer and Town signed just Greaves for £15m.

Philogene returned to Villa Park for a cut-price £13m thanks to their 30 per cent sell-on clause. Since signing that five-year contract, the winger has made only three starts - two in the Premier League - and 11 sub appearances.

McKenna is keen to bolster his attacking options this month. George Hirst has just returned to action, but Omari Hutchinson (groin), Conor Chaplin (knee) and Sammie Szmodics (ankle) are all medium-term absentees.