Aston Villa’s stance in talks over Donyell Malen continues to shape the deal. Fresh reporting from Italy now suggests the club are close to getting exactly what they wanted.
As we covered earlier, the reported interested from Atlético Madrid has been very useful indeed for Aston Villa. AS Roma were rushed into a panic because of the Spanish approach.
Not only have the Serie A side picked up speed, they’ve also upped their offer to the Premier League club. In addition, the buying clause has changed from an option into a conditional obligation.
According to Gianluca Di Marzio, AS Roma have improved their offer to Aston Villa. The Serie A side want to secure a clear overtake of Atlético Madrid in the race for Donyell Malen.
The revised proposal reaches €27m in total. Roma are offering €2m for the loan.
There is a conditional obligation to buy set at €25m. That clause activates if Roma qualify for European competition next season. This includes the Champions League, Europa League or Conference League. Importantly, the deal includes no clauses linked to appearances or minutes played.
Roma are currently fifth, so there’s a very good chance the clause is activated.
Aston Villa exit now close to €27m permanent transfer
As a result, Italian media describe the move as close to a permanent transfer. To avoid the obligation, Roma would likely need to finish seventh or lower in Serie A. That outcome is seen as unlikely within the club, with Aston Villa probably feeling the same way.
From Villa’s perspective, the pressure from Atlético Madrid has clearly helped. The Spanish interest pushed Roma to act faster and improve the structure. Consequently, Unai Emery’s side now have clarity on both value and timing.
At the same time, Conor Gallagher links with Aston Villa over the weekend appeared to nudge Tottenham Hotspur into action and secure Atlético Madrid the €40m they wanted.
A curious coincidence.
