Transfer decision made on £43m confirmed Liverpool forward target | OneFootball

Liverpool are planning to shake up their forward options this summer.

The Reds have lost Mohamed Salah on a free transfer after an agreement was reached to rip up his £400k per week contract one year early.

And Federico Chiesa is expected to join the Egyptian King on the exit ramp - with teams in Serie A thought to be keen on his signature.

Liverpool's transfer window problems

Liverpool had plans to sign Yan Diomande from RB Leipzig - offering €100m for the Ivorian teenage sensation. But the 19-year-old looks set to stay in the Bundesliga - leaving the Reds looking around at other targets.

Bradley Barcola, Yankuba Minteh and Matias Pardo-Fernandez have all been brought under consideration - with Liverpool putting a lot of groundwork into getting their winger move right.

Another option discussed has been Said El Mala of Koln. The 19-year-old scored 13 goals and added five assists in the German top flight last season - putting him on the radar for several elite clubs.

Borussia Dortmund - along with Premier League sides Brentford, Brighton, Newcastle and the Reds - are all thought to be keen on adding the Germany under-21 winger.

However a deal for El Mala is likely to happen in 2027 at the earliest according to a report in TEAMtalk - which Koln now planning to keep him on board for the 2026/27 season.

Koln won't sell El Mala until 2027

El Mala is under contract until 2030 with Koln asking for around €50m (£43m) - but Liverpool will have to bide their time over a deal for the wide man.

“FC Koln are increasingly confident they will keep star winger Said El Mala at the club for at least another season,” the report reads.

“Recent developments suggest he is set to remain at the RheinEnergie Stadion.

“The club’s valuation remains firm at approximately €50m, including add-ons, and they are under no immediate pressure to sell.

“With other outgoing transfers providing financial flexibility, Koln can afford to take a patient approach.”

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El Mala valued around £43m

Said El Mala is a 19-year-old Germany U21 international winger/attacking midfielder for 1. FC Köln, standing around 1.85m and predominantly left-sided but right-footed, with Lebanese heritage and a breakthrough 2025-26 season behind him.

El Mala profiles as a powerful transition winger: tall, explosive over the first few metres, thriving when driving in off the left to shoot with his right, combining one‑v‑one acceleration, close control and instinctive final-third decision-making.

He attacks space aggressively in counter-attacks, can operate between the lines in a 3-4-3, and brings double‑digit goal contribution potential from wide areas.

Signed from Viktoria Köln in 2024 for a modest fee and initially loaned back, he has since posted 13 goals and 5 assists in the Bundesliga, prompting a contract extension through 2030 with no release clause.

Köln value him around the €50m mark, are under no pressure to sell and are preparing improved terms to make him one of their best-paid players.

Despite Köln’s public stance, there is intense external noise: Bayern, Dortmund and PSG have tracked him, while Chelsea, Newcastle and especially Brighton are exploring deals built around a purchase now and loan-back, with some reports suggesting a Brighton move worth up to £30m from 2026.