Transfer News: Liverpool open talks with Donyell Malen

According to Sky Sports Germany (via Anfield Central h/t Liverpool Echo), Liverpool have opened talks with PSV Eindhoven’s Dutch forward Donyell Malen over a summer transfer.

Malen spent a major portion of his youth footballing years at the academy of Ajax, before making his way to England, signing for Arsenal in 2015. While he impressed for the club’s Under-18 and the reserve team, the Dutchman never got a look-in into the first-team and he signed for PSV in 2017.

Donyell Malen is a transfer target for Liverpool

Since returning to the Netherlands, Malen has developed into one of the best forwards on display in the Eredivisie, bagging 55 goals and 24 assists from 116 games. The 2020/21 term was the 22-year-old’s best season to date, as he amassed a tally of 27 goals and 10 assists from 45 games in all competitions. (h/t Transfemarkt)

Capped 12 times by the Dutch national team, Malen is currently with the Oranje at the UEFA Euro 2020 and impressed in their recent game against North Macedonia. His exploits for club and country have now put him on the radars of Liverpool, who are said to have opened talks to sign the Dutchman as well. (h/t Liverpool Echo)

Liverpool do need a new forward after Roberto Firmino’s failure to deliver consistently in front of goal over the past season. In addition, with the Reds set to lose both Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah for the AFCON next year, having depth in the squad becomes that much more imperative.

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So, a move for someone like Malen, who is primarily a centre-forward, but can do the job out wide, would make a lot of sense for Jurgen Klopp & co. With talks reported to have started between the club and the player, it will be interesting to see where they lead to.