The Oranje come into the tournament with a wide range of attacking talent. Memphis Depay is the obvious name in people's minds when thinking of the Dutch frontline, with  Wout Weghorst adding to the goal threat.

A name that has slipped under the radar is Donyell Malen, who has had a very successful season in the Eredivisie for PSV. 19 goals and eight assists in 32 games has seen Frank de Boer take a gamble on the 22-year-old.

The former Arsenal man made his debut for PSV in 2017 and has improved year on year since. 12 goals in 2018/19 and 11 the next season has developed into 19 this campaign.

  • What impact could he have?

He can play off the left and through the middle, and as a result, he gives De Boer a decision to make. He has nine caps so far for the Netherlands, scoring two goals, including one in the Volksparkstadion against Germany in a 4-2 victory.

A season with 37 total goal involvements in all competitions makes him one of the most inform players coming into this summer's European Championships. 

He isn't shy on the big occasion either, scoring five goals and getting an assist in this seasons Europa League, winning Group E, then being eliminated by Olympiacos in the next round. Malen showed his ability, and despite going out early on in the competition, he finished third top scorer, joint with Bruno Fernandes and ahead of Lucas Moura.

He also has a leadership quality that could prove to be invaluable in a tournament format. He was the captain in the Europa League against Omonia Nikosia and in the league against ADO Den Haag. In a team that features many leaders, Malen will play a part even if he doesn't get as many minutes on the pitch as he potentially deserves.

  • How Malen fits in

Frank de Boer has been playing a 5-3-2, meaning that Malen will be looking to be get into one of the two striker spots available. Competition for those two spots will be hard-fought as six other players compete to get into the starting eleven.

What might set Malen apart from the group is his blistering pace. Luuk De Jong and Weghorst are typical target men who may pair nicely alongside Depay or Malen upfront. He is used to playing alongside another striker as he starts alongside Eran Zahavi for PSV in a 4-4-2 formation.

Malen is the ideal option to be brought off the bench when chasing a game in the competition's latter stages. Up against tired defences, Malen could be an effective weapon for The Flying Dutchmen.

 

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