1. FC Köln managing director Thomas Kessler has expressed firm belief that Said El Mala will remain at the Bundesliga club this season despite ongoing interest from Premier League sides. Kessler confirmed that approaches have been made for the 19-year-old, though none have resulted in a departure.
“There have been one or two offers, which have also become public. But none of them resulted in a transfer, so I firmly believe that he will play for FC this season,” Kessler told reporters.
Premier League interest
The young forward has attracted significant attention from English clubs, with both Brentford FC and Brighton & Hove Albion having shown interest in securing his services. The attention follows a breakthrough campaign in which El Mala was directly involved in 18 goals, scoring 13 times and providing five assists in the Bundesliga.
Reports indicate that Köln would only consider parting with the Egyptian-German attacker if a bid in the region of €50 million were submitted. This valuation reflects both his current goal-scoring ability and his potential for further development.
Implications for Köln
Retaining El Mala would represent a significant boost for Köln’s attacking options as they prepare for the new campaign. His contributions proved vital last season, and his continued presence would provide stability in the final third.
For the Premier League suitors, the failure to secure an early deal may force them to explore alternative targets. However, with the transfer window remaining open, should El Mala maintain his form, interest is likely to persist.
At present, all indications suggest the teenager will continue his development in Germany rather than making an immediate switch to England.