Donyell Malen’s career has turned sharply in the space of a few months, and now Manchester United are reportedly watching closely.
The Dutch forward struggled to establish himself during his spell at Aston Villa earlier this season, slipping behind Ollie Watkins in the pecking order before leaving in January. At the time, it looked like a temporary move designed to reset his season.
Instead, it may have reshaped his market entirely.
According to Corriere dello Sport, United are now among the clubs tracking Malen after his explosive form at AS Roma, where the 27-year-old has quickly rebuilt his reputation.
Manchester United monitoring Donyell Malen after Roma form
Malen has hit 11 goals in just 14 appearances since arriving in Italy, a return that has caught attention across Europe.
Roma hold an option to make the deal permanent for a fee reported between €25 million and €30 million, and all indications suggest they intend to activate it.
But the situation has not gone unnoticed.
Manchester United are understood to be one of several Premier League clubs following developments, alongside Chelseaand Newcastle United.
For United, it is an unexpected link.
After investing heavily in attacking reinforcements last summer, adding multiple forwards to reshape their frontline, another move in that area was not seen as an immediate priority.
But Malen’s numbers are difficult to ignore.
Why Donyell Malen struggled at Aston Villa
At Villa, things never quite clicked.
Under Unai Emery, Malen found himself fighting for minutes in a system built around Ollie Watkins, and that competition limited his opportunities to settle into a consistent role.
Emery himself has openly addressed that.
“He faced competition from Watkins, so he played less for that reason. I thought he should play more as a striker.
I think he’s finding the perfect spot at Roma and has played every game to exploit his qualities and score goals.”
— Unai Emery
That honesty explains plenty.
Based on recent matches we’ve covered, Malen’s best football tends to come when he is the main attacking reference point rather than rotating around another central striker.
Roma have given him exactly that.
Donyell Malen stats show major turnaround
| Stat (2025/26) | Donyell Malen |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 29 |
| Goals | 15 |
| Assists | 5 |
| Shots on target | 31 |
source: sofascore match data – 3 May 2026
The goals tell the obvious story, but the bigger shift has been his confidence and consistency.
From the last few weeks of Roma’s campaign, Malen has looked sharper, more direct and far more decisive inside the penalty area.
That version of him is very different from the one seen at Villa Park.
However, it remains too early to know whether Roma’s system is simply the perfect fit, or whether this is a broader evolution in his game.
Roma expected to move quickly on permanent deal
Roma’s ownership group are expected in Italy this week, and reports suggest approving Malen’s permanent transfer is high on the agenda.
That matters.
If Roma activate the clause soon, any Premier League side interested would need to negotiate from a much stronger starting point, and likely at a much higher valuation.
His current form has almost certainly pushed his price above the original option.
For United, timing could become the deciding factor.
Key Insights
- Manchester United are reportedly monitoring Donyell Malen
- The Dutch forward has scored 11 goals in 14 games for Roma
- Aston Villa allowed him to leave in January after limited opportunities
- Roma are expected to trigger their permanent option
- Chelsea and Newcastle are also following the situation
What’s next?
Roma’s next move looks straightforward.
Unless there is a sudden change, the Serie A side are expected to make Malen’s stay permanent before the transfer window opens. That would not end Premier League interest, but it would significantly change the financial landscape.
Manchester United, Chelsea and Newcastle may still test Roma’s resolve later in the summer, especially if Malen maintains this scoring run.
Much will depend on how Roma finish the season and whether European qualification is secured.
0 Comments
First read message
Leave a comment
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *