Köln’s rising star Said El Mala in the spotlight – catching BVB’s eye too | OneFootball

With the golden goal in 1. FC Köln’s 1-0 victory at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, Said El Mala delivered one of the highlights of the sixth Bundesliga matchday last Friday. The just 19-year-old attacking player has thus set his next mark and is already on the radar of various top clubs. Borussia Dortmund has also made initial inquiries.

In Hoffenheim, Köln’s coach Lukas Kwasniok gave El Mala his first start after five previous substitute appearances, in which he had already scored a goal and provided an assist. The U21 international repaid the trust. With an irresistible solo run past four opponents, El Mala scored the goal of the day and further fueled the hype surrounding him in Cologne.

The qualities of the youngster, whom FC signed in the summer of 2024 together with his two-year-older brother Malek for around 400,000 euros from Viktoria Köln and initially loaned back to the smaller city rival for one season, have long been known beyond the city of Cologne.

Already last summer, there were offers from England from Brighton & Hove Albion and FC Southampton in the double-digit million range. However, the Billy Goats declined without much hesitation and instead extended the contracts of the El Mala brothers until 2030, without a release clause.

BVB was interested two years ago

However, it is unlikely that Said El Mala will wear the 1. FC Köln jersey for much longer if his development continues at even a similar pace. More offers are expected by next summer at the latest, and the quick dribbler could become the most expensive sale in the club’s history. In any case, FC does not want to let their jewel go for less than 35 million euros.

There is interest from various sides, according to “Sky” also from FC Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund. Both clubs have informed 1. FC Köln and the player’s side that they are monitoring a possible transfer. Of course, this is not the first time BVB has shown interest. Even before El Mala decided for Köln, Borussia tried to sign the youngster, but in the end, he saw better prospects for himself and his brother at FC.

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