Is there some kind of overlord god that kicks in around the Jan transfer window demanding sacrifices that says 'sell forwards now'.
if we had already got somebody through the door that at least increased the quality of our front line then I can easily see based on a number of reasons why you would let Malen go, plus you have to take into consideration Malen himself may have said, 'World Cup year' I want more starts and game time guaranteed, otherwise i'm gone.
I can only imagine there will be breaking news shortly on a brand new goal machine coming through the door in the coming hours, otherwise you have to say or explain how half way through a season you let go of Duran, Diaby and now this Jan Malen ( maybe even Guessand) and of course Bailey, then take on players you either don't play or simply don't work out, keep them and get rid of somebody better, weird.