Manchester City move ‘not on the cards’ for breakout Bundesliga star, admits agent | OneFootball

The agent of Bundesliga starlet Saïd El Mala has played down rumours linking the 19-year-old to a sensational move to the Premier League in January.

El Mala, a left winger who can also play more centrally, spent 18 months on loan in the 3. Bundesliga with Viktoria Koln prior to the current season. His first six months in senior football were decidedly unspectacular as he scored just once in 10 appearances.

The previous campaign was much more productive for the youngster. He scored an impressive 13 goals in 32 league appearances, finishing the season as Koln’s third-highest goalscorer.

However, it was much more than El Mala’s goalscoring prowess that caught the eye of clubs across Europe – the teenager also averaged more successful dribbles per 90 than 97.9% of his peers and won more duels per 90 than 89.7% of his counterparts.

His good form in the German third-tier led to him being trusted as a regular starter in the Bundesliga for the newly promoted 1 FC. Koln this season – and El Mala has since thrived. He is 1 FC. Koln’s highest goalscorer and second highest assist provider in the league, whilst also averaging the fifth highest number of successful dribbles per 90 of any Bundesliga player.

Although he did not make his senior international debut, El Mala was called up to the most recent German Men’s squad for their game against Luxembourg. The youngster’s impressive feats this season have led to Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham vesting an interest in his services.

Although representatives of the three aforementioned clubs are reportedly in contact with El Mala’s agent Martin Carmona, he has stated that his client will most likely remain put in Germany till the end of the season. “Saïd (El Mala) feels completely at home in Cologne,” Carmona said in conversation with BILD, as relayed by Sport Witness.

“Right now, his only focus is on immediately ending the negative trend of the past few weeks in the new year and stabilising the team. A transfer is not on the cards for Saïd at the moment.”

This means that any potential move to Manchester City could likely not be made until the summer, though there is the possibility of Koln themselves pushing for a move if they decide to cash in on the youngster – whom they reportedly value at €40 million (~£35 million).

Such a significant financial outlay would surely be off-putting for City, who would not want to spend a large chunk of money on a player who is unproven and unlikely to get consistent minutes in the first-team in the near future.

Additionally, this potential lack of minutes could give Manchester United and Tottenham, whose squads possess much less quality in the final third, the upper hand at the negotiating table.

However, there is a long time between the present and the summer transfer window – and circumstances could change if El Mala’s form continues and the likes of Oscar Bobb and Bernardo Silva leave the Etihad Stadium next summer.