Villa's Malen Exit Gains Traction as Roma Move Accelerates; Abraham Return Bid Hinges on Fee

Aston Villa appear set to offload Netherlands forward Donyell Malen to AS Roma on a loan arrangement, with an option to buy valued at approximately £25m, according to reports from Sky Sports.

Roma have settled on Malen as their third-choice striking target after protracted pursuits of Joshua Zirkzee and Giacomo Raspadori proved fruitless. The Italian club's managerial upheaval—which complicated their Zirkzee negotiations—has prompted them to pivot towards the Dutch international as a more straightforward solution.

The transfer framework sees Villa loan the 26-year-old to the Stadio Olimpico with a mandatory or optional purchase clause attached, providing Roma with flexibility whilst securing Villa some immediate financial relief. This deal addresses the Midlands club's ongoing cash constraints stemming from Premier League Profit and Sustainability regulations.

Separately, Villa are pursuing a route back to the Premier League for former Chelsea academy graduate Tammy Abraham. The striker currently finds himself in an awkward contractual position at Roma, with Turkish outfit Besiktas obligated to purchase him permanently for roughly £11m when his loan expires.

However, Roma would consider cancelling that arrangement if Villa table a suitable bid. The Serie A outfit's stance hinges on one crucial element: they must still receive a transfer fee to justify releasing Abraham from his existing obligations. Should Villa meet Roma's valuation, the path clears for Abraham to rejoin English football.

Villa's search for fresh firepower comes as they mount an unlikely title challenge. Unai Emery's side sit just six points behind Arsenal having recovered from a dreadful opening to the 2025/26 campaign. Their summer window proved restrictive due to financial constraints, though they have now emerged as genuine contenders in the title race.

The Abraham pursuit represents a pragmatic solution to Villa's attacking ambitions, offering Premier League pedigree and proven experience at the highest level. Should both deals materialise, Villa would effectively swap forwards with Roma whilst addressing their squad depth requirements ahead of a genuine push for silverware.