Roma will buy Donyal Malen from Aston Villa this summer, regardless of qualification for the Champions League.
This is according to journalist Niccolo Ceccarini on Tuttomercatoweb. According to their information, Roma have already decided to buy Malen permanently.
The Dutchman joined the Serie A team on loan from Aston Villa in the January transfer window. That deal includes an obligation for Roma to make it permanent for €25m. However, this is dependent on them qualifying for the Champions League.
Malen's form since his arrival has now changed that plan. The 27-year-old has quickly established himself as a leading man Named himself among Italy's 'top strikers'.
€25m transfer clause
To date he has scored six goals in seven matches for Roma, including a goal against Juventus and two against champions Napoli. His influence has 'conquered all'. Manager Gian Piero Gasperini 'first and foremost'.
That's why despite the agreement with Aston Villa, Roma made no decision to buy him. The Italian side is no longer concerned about this.
Instead, they are going to buy Malen permanently for an agreed €25m price. There will be no waiting to see if they can qualify for the Champions League first.
Instead, Roma will have to pay just €25m. Aston Villa will also retain a 10% cut on any future resale.
Roma and Aston Villa benefited
This is a deal that will suit everyone. Roma get the chance to keep their star man, Malen gets the chance to stay at a club where he is thriving, and Aston Villa get the €25m they paid for him in January last year. That 10% clause may prove beneficial in future also.
During the year Malen was at Villa Park, he struggled to make an impact. 10 goals and two assists in 46 games was certainly not the return Unai Emery was looking for.
Instead he seems better suited to Gasperini and Italian football. Whether this is because the manager's style is a better fit or Italian football is a better fit is debatable.
But six goals in seven games so far suggests something is going on, and now Roma want to keep him in the capital permanently.
