According to a recent report by AS (translated by the Daily Mail), Barcelona have joined the race to secure the services of Donyell Malen from PSV Eindhoven. The same source has also claimed that the Catalan giants are looking for a long-term replacement for Luis Suarez and has identified the £50m-rated forward as an ideal candidate to lead the line at the Nou Camp.
Donyell Malen’s Recent Emergence In The Dutch Top-Flight
Malen is a product of AFC Ajax’s youth academy. He opted to make a high-profile switch to play in England for Arsenal back in 2015, but things didn’t fall in place for him at the English capital. The Dutch youngster had to seal a return back to his homeland to wear the colours of PSV in the summer of 2017.
The 20-year-old has been in a rich vein of form for Mark van Bommel’s side this season and has finally begun to fulfil his true potential at the Philips Stadium. Malen has featured in 18 matches for the Dutch outfit this term, netting 16 goals while creating six assists across all competitions.
The European sensation has already begun to show that he can be a dominant force in the Eredivisie. However, one can question whether Malen is good enough to represent an elite club like Barca.
What Will The PSV Rising Star Bring To The Nou Camp?
Malen is blessed with tremendous speed and can make a few well-timed runs in the final third. The Dutch centre-forward can link up well with others around him and tends to come alive when left isolated with his marker in a 1v1 situation. The PSV starlet has transformed himself into a prolific marksman in the Dutch top-flight which could bode well for him in the future.
Is Malen The Right Fit For Barca?
Barcelona will do well to prise him away from the Netherlands as he has the potential to become a world-class striker someday. However, Malen would need time before he is ready to prove his worth in Catalunya. He is way too inexperienced to fill the shoes of Luis Suarez at this moment. However, with time, he should be prepared to take on the challenges of spearheading the Barca attack up top.
His pace and consistency of scoring goals make him a brilliant fit for the Catalans as long as he is willing to work hard on improving his game with each season.
