Weekend deadline for El Mala deal
Borussia Dortmund are targeting the completion of Said El Mala’s transfer from 1.FC Köln by the end of this weekend. The Bundesliga side had initially hoped to present the 19-year-old winger at the start of the week, but that timeline passed without resolution.
As of Tuesday midday, Köln had not yet received a formal written offer for the player. Dortmund remain optimistic that a breakthrough can be achieved in the coming days, though the lack of official paperwork submitted by midweek leaves the weekend target uncertain.
Financial package and clause dispute
Dortmund have structured a proposal comprising a €48 million base fee plus €2 million in easily achievable bonuses. An additional €5 million could be included as a supplementary payment, potentially matching Köln’s rumoured €50 million valuation.
The primary obstacle concerns the sell-on clause. Köln are demanding ten per cent of any future transfer fee for El Mala. Dortmund, however, are offering ten per cent of any future transfer profit rather than the total fee. This disagreement over the clause structure has stalled progress despite alignment on the overall financial package.
Alternative targets on standby
Should the El Mala deal collapse, Dortmund have identified several alternatives. Jadon Sancho and Arsenal’s Ethan Nwaneri feature on a shortlist that also includes Ibrahim Mbaye, Giannis Konstantelias and Yeremay Hernández. The club will pursue these options if negotiations with Köln fail.
El Mala operates primarily as a left winger. The coming days will prove decisive in determining whether the teenager joins Dortmund or if the club must activate their Plan B strategy to bolster their attacking options.