The new Prince Poldi? Bayern eye up young Cologne talent! | OneFootball

A completely new name has emerged as a transfer candidate for FC Bayern: The Munich club is reportedly interested in a young talent from 1. FC Köln.

FC Bayern is closely monitoring the next big hope from 1. FC Köln: Said El Mala, an attacking gem and already one of the most exciting prospects in the Bundesliga. According to Sky, the 19-year-old is on Munich’s shortlist—not for the winter transfer window, but definitely for the upcoming summer.

Munich’s scouts have been following the Cologne player for months, according to the report, and their interest has already been made concrete. Borussia Dortmund is also in the race, and Köln has been informed by both clubs.

El Mala, who prefers to play on the left wing, could be considered by FC Bayern as a future backup for Luis Diaz. This would make him an option if Serge Gnabry leaves the club. The talent still has a long-term contract with Köln until 2030—with no release clause. Nevertheless, it’s clear: at the latest by summer, a heated bidding war is likely to begin.

High Price Tag for Said El Mala from 1. FC Köln

Particularly noteworthy: Köln has already rejected a €20 million offer from Brighton. According to Sky, the club’s pain threshold now stands at a minimum of €35 million. The young player’s market value has thus skyrocketed in a short period, after Köln’s sporting director Christian Keller once signed him for just €350,000.

Photo: IMAGO

The battle for El Mala promises to be highly explosive. With Bayern and Dortmund, two German heavyweights are vying for the attacking jewel. For Munich, a deal would not only be an investment in the future but also a statement on the national transfer market.

This season, El Mala has played in six Bundesliga matches and one cup match for Köln. He has scored two goals and provided one assist. Most recently, he drew attention with his classy goal during his starting eleven debut in Köln’s 1-0 win over Hoffenheim at the weekend.

Bayern has previously brought a top talent from Köln to Munich: In 2006, Lukas Podolski moved from the cathedral city to Munich and played for the German record champions for three years.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.