Report: Spurs eyeing £25m forward Van der Vaart said has what it takes to become 'the best player in the world'
Yesterday at 10:45 AM
Tottenham Hotspur are likely to be busy in the January transfer window as they look to bring in reinforcements.
Spurs have been without numerous key players for much of the season and need to bolster their ranks, particularly at the back and in attack.
Now, Tottenham are reported to be keen on signing a Rafael van der Vaart-endorsed attacking talent who is currently in talks over a move to Aston Villa.
Tottenham set sights on Donyell Malen
According to CaughtOffside, Tottenham are now discussing internally whether to enter strongly into the conversation for Borussia Dortmund’s Donyell Malen.
Villa look to be ahead in the running for the 25-year-old’s services as they are already well underway in negotiations, with talks now at the final stage on the player side, added the report.
However, some distance remains between the clubs in terms of Malen’s valuation, so that could leave room for rival suitors to get in and swoop for the £25million man ahead of Villa.
Tottenham are also interested in Randal Kolo Muani, who Paris Saint-Germain are seemingly willing to offload this month.
What Malen could bring to Tottenham
By signing Malen, Tottenham – or indeed Villa – would be getting themselves a superb forward in his prime.
The Netherlands international has made 131 appearances for Dortmund and has registered 39 goals and 20 assists.
However, he has been struggling for game time under Nuri Sahin this season, leading to his availability on the market this month.
Tottenham cult hero Van der Vaart previously claimed that Malen has what it takes to become a superstar.
"I think he's so good," Van der Vaart said. "I've said it before. It seems like he doesn't believe (in his own potential).
"The question I actually want to ask him is; Do you want to become the best player in the world? Because he really has everything to do that. I am 100 percent convinced."
Meanwhile, the Bundesliga website recently compared Malen to Chelsea and Belgium icon Eden Hazard.
'Malen is almost the complete package when you think of a modern-day forward,' they wrote of the versatile forward.
'Malen combines his incredible speed and technical ability on the ball with an eye for goal and aptitude for defensive work, which have endeared him to the Dortmund faithful.
'Standing at 5'8″, Malen is no big man up front, but rather a forward who prefers to run in behind to get defenders chasing him, or come short to link up with players around him.
'In that sense he is reminiscent of Chelsea great Eden Hazard, whose squat dribbling style and long-range shooting made him a nightmare for defenders.'
The Bundesliga website also quoted former teammate Mario Gotze as saying: “Donyell is extremely fast and very dangerous. If he has a chance, it's usually a goal, too.”
