Brentford are in talks with Koln to sign the Billy Goats’ young starlet, Said El Mala. The Bees are believed to have offered a fee of around £39m plus add-ons for the talented forward last week, but have yet to receive an answer.
Koln are reportedly holding out for a bigger transfer fee for one of their most valuable players.
El Mala is one of the most exciting young players in Europe
Over the last few seasons, El Mala has emerged as one of the most exciting young players in the European game. The 19-year-old talent has scored 13 goals and produced five assists in 20 starts and 14 substitute appearances for Koln.
El Mala has impressed this season, having arrived from Koln’s city rivals FC Viktoria Koln, where he had shone in the third tier of German football, scoring 13 goals and producing 5 assists.
The youngster actually started his professional career in the youth system at Borussia Monchengladbach. However, he was allowed to leave Gladbach on a free transfer in 2023.
Brentford are already working hard to improve their squad
El Mala would be an exciting addition to the Bees squad, as head coach Keith Andrews looks to build on his team’s top-half finish in the Premier League last season.
Brentford have already brought in highly promising young Austrian centre-back Jannik Schuster from Red Bull Salzburg for £20m. Schuster is from a sporting family, as his brother and father were all ski jumpers.
The club have become renowned for picking up bargains in the transfer market in recent years. Buying young players, moulding them into stars and then selling them on for big fees.
The signing of Schuster, and potentially El Mala, follows the same formula that has turned Brentford into a highly stable Premier League club.