Arsenal now leading the race to sign £40m Dortmund star who has 18goals/assist this season - Edu is keen to make the deal happen in the summer

 

Arsenal are a concrete option for Borussia Dortmund winger Donyell Malen this summer.

The Gunners are planning to invest on a wide player during the next transfer window and they are currently looking at different forwards including Nico Williams and Pedro Neto.

It is now reported by Florian Plettenberg that the club are a concrete option for Malen, who wants to leave Dortmund at the end of the campaign. He is eyeing a Premier League move.

Dortmund are expected to demand between €40-50m to part ways with him.

Arsenal could be tempted to spend on Malen

Malen was previously in the Arsenal academy between 2015 and 2017. He was anticipated to make his breakthrough, but he ended up choosing a move to PSV Eindhoven.

The 25-year-old played as a regular striker during his time in the Eredivisie, but he has mostly operated from the wing since joining Dortmund from PSV in the summer of 2021.

Malen has predominantly played from the right flank this term. He has been impressive with a tally of 13 goals and five assists from 33 appearances across all competitions.

In our view, the Gunners could see him as a solid deputy for Bukayo Saka. Reiss Nelson has barely impressed as a substitute and could be sold at the end of the season.

Arsenal will most certainly want to negotiate a lower fee for Malen, but it may not be hard to convince him as he has publicly admitted that he wants to rejoin the club.

Malen looks a better signing than injury-prone Neto while his €115,000-a-week wages make him more affordable than Williams, who may want a rise on his €200,000-a-week salary.