Chelsea have been told that Koln are ready to make a “quick sale” of transfer target Said El Mala – but the Stamford Bridge club have been sent a stern warning that Brighton are also right in the hunt for one of the Bundesliga’s breakout stars of the season.
El Mala has scored 10 goals and produced four assists in just 27 Bundesliga appearances this season, only 13 of which have been starts. This form has earmarked the 19-year-old as one of the players to watch ahead of the summer.
Chelsea have been linked with a move for the teenager for several weeks, and El Mala’s saga is set to accelerate imminently, with Florian Plettenberg confirming on X that the teenager is being teed up for a “quick sale” by Koln.
Said El Mala: Transfer latest
Koln are currently locked in talks with several clubs over El Mala’s sale, with the Bundesliga side eager to offload the youngster to the Premier League. The implicit reason for this is that clubs from England are likely to offer the best price for the talented teenager.
While El Mala has an Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of €22.5 million – up from €1.8m last summer thanks to his spectacular breakthrough season – Koln are said to be “convinced” that €40m will not be enough to persuade them to sell, the Sky Sport Deutschland transfer expert says.
Transfer discussions with clubs are ongoing, though Brighton have checked out for the moment at the type of price that Koln are demanding. Bild reported in March that he would be open to moving to the Seagulls.
Chelsea’s stance on paying €40m for El Mala is less clear. Previously, it was claimed that they have made a “strong bid” for the player along with Newcastle, though no value was put on that. Manchester United have also been linked with the wide man.
Expert opinion: El Mala’s incredible explosion at Koln
Bundesliga expert Ronan Murphy has sung the praises of El Mala, telling FootballTransfers:
“Brighton wanted Said El Mala before he had even played a minute in the Bundesliga. The club’s scouts are always on the lookout for players they can develop into stars before selling them on for large fees. This time, they were beaten to the chase by Koln, who could offer the teenager first-team opportunities more quickly, and was a natural path for the exciting prospect already playing in that city, with third-tier Viktoria Koln. But those at the cathedral city’s bigger club hardly expected him to have such an instant impact in the Bundesliga as he became only the fourth teenager in Koln’s history to score 10 Bundesliga goals.
“In 27 Bundesliga games this season, he has also provided four assists and his dribbling threat has proved a nuisance for opposition defenders. Head coach Lukas Kwasniok was criticised for not starting him in more games, with the Polish manager trying to save the club from relegation and save his job and looking to more experienced players to get him out of the mess. Kwasniok was sacked before the March international break and is probably looking back and thinking maybe he should have relied on the youngster a bit more.
“Kwasniok pointed to El Mala’s defensive deficiencies as the reason he was left out of the starting XI on occasion, while Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann also expressed concerns about El Mala’s out-of-possession game, saying he was only playing ’50 per cent’ for his club which was ‘too little.’ But those complaints are akin to driving a sportscar on a rural road. You get it out on the autobahn and put the foot to the floor, just as Antonio Di Salvo did with Germany’s Under-21s as he scored the opening goal in Greece to guarantee at least a playoff spot for next summer’s European Championships.
“After the goal, El Mala could not hold back the tears, coming just three days after his grandmother had died, telling reporters it was the ‘most emotional moment of my life.’ He also praised his team-mates, saying ‘You made it easier for me to deal with the pain and carry on.’ He will bring that resilience back to Cologne where caretaker boss Rene Wagner is likely to put more trust in him, making him more battle-hardened if, and when, the Premier League comes calling again.”
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