Aston Villa ‘register interest’ in “old-fashioned” 10-goal striker to replace Donyell Malen

Donyell Malen. (Reuters/Andrew Couldridge)

Aston Villa are on the hunt for firepower after saying goodbye to Donyell Malen, and they may have found their next target.

The Dutchman left a gap in Villa’s attack after a strong season, scoring seven goals across all competitions and proving a reliable backup to Ollie Watkins.

Now, with Malen hitting the ground running at Roma—scoring just 26 minutes into his debut—Unai Emery is determined to ensure his squad doesn’t miss a beat.

January could see Villa pull off a clever move to bring in a proven goal-getter to keep their top-four ambitions alive.

Aston Villa have reportedly expressed interest in signing Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, according to The Guardian.

The 28-year-old French forward is keen on leaving Selhurst Park this month, with less than 18 months remaining on his contract.

While he had reportedly agreed personal terms with Juventus, the Italian club could not reach a loan agreement with Palace that included an obligation to buy, reportedly falling short of the £35m–£40m Crystal Palace were asking.

Mateta has 10 goals this season and has been described as an “old-fashioned” striker, praised by Thierry Henry for his physical presence and goal-scoring instincts. Since Oliver Glasner’s arrival at Palace nearly two years ago, only four players in the Premier League have scored more than Mateta, making him a potentially crucial addition to Villa’s squad.

In a potential swap, Crystal Palace are considering Villa forward Evann Guessand as a replacement for Mateta. The Ivorian attacker, who joined Villa from Nice for around £30m, has started just six Premier League matches this season and recently returned from the Africa Cup of Nations.

If Villa – who have also shown interest in Besiktas striker Tammy Abraham – can complete the deal, Mateta would bring much-needed firepower and experience to Unai Emery’s attack, helping to maintain their top-four ambitions while covering the gap left by Malen’s departure.

Barnaby Lane is a highly experienced sports writer who has written for The Times, FourFourTwo Magazine, Sports Illustrated, TalkSPORT, and Business Insider.

Over the years, he's had the pleasure of interviewing some of the biggest names in world sport, including Usain Bolt, Rafael Nadal, Christian Pulisic, and more.

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