Bayern Munich loom as a threat to Manchester City to potentially sign one of Germany’s top talents | OneFootball

Said El Mala has had an impressive campaign so far this season for FC Köln. The young winger’s impressive form has caught the eye of Manchester City. Sky Deutschland has previously reported that City scouts have been closely monitoring the performances and progress of Said El Mala recently. Now, it has emerged that Bayern Munich is also keeping tabs on FC Köln’s talented young winger. That is no surprise given how impressive El Mala is as a player and the fact that Bayern traditionally sign nearly all of Germany’s top young talent.

But as we have seen with Florian Wirtz’s move to Liverpool and Nick Woltemade’s summer move to Newcastle, times have changed. City could trump Bayern in the race to sign El Mala if they decide to move for the young winger.

Bayern Munich is also keeping a close eye on Said El Mala’s progress.

Christian Falk has reported for CF Bayern Insider that Bayern Munich sees the signing of Said El Mala from FC Köln as a top priority. Furthermore, Falk reports that Bayern does not want to see one of Germany’s brightest young prospects move abroad. Falk also reports that it is believed that El Mala could be available for a transfer fee of around £30 million. It is also reported by Falk that Manchester City has sent scouts to watch El Mala in action. Lastly, it is reported that Barcelona and PSG also have an eye on El Mala, who is expected to leave FC Köln in the future.

Manchester City have every chance of signing Said El Mala if it is a move they wish to pursue.

It was considered a rite of passage that Germany’s brightest prospects would end up at Bayern Munich. The Bundesliga giants typically built their team around a core of premier German talent. They do still follow that model. But recently, Germany’s top talents haven’t chosen to move to Bayern. Florian Wirtz and Nick Woltemade chose to spurn interest from Bayern to move to the Premier League. There is no reason to believe that if Manchester City did have to fight Bayern Munich for the signing of Said El Mala that they couldn’t emerge victorious in that battle if it did occur.

Manchester City would have to sell to Said El Mala, the package that is playing in Pep Guardiola’s squad. El Mala typically plays on the left wing and would have to fight Jeremy Doku to eventually become City’s first-choice left winger for arguments sake. El Mala is only 19 years of age, so City could sell him the idea that if he arrived at the Etihad he’d have to prove himself to force his way into Pep Guardiola’s first eleven on a regular basis. Given Said El Mala’s talent and potential he could achieve that goal. Manchester City would be offering him a similar type of role to what Bayern Munich could. So it isn’t a one horse race in a potential battle to sign Said El Mala if that is what transpires in the future.

Summary.

If City pursue Said El Mala and are faced with a race against Bayern to sign him, they’d have to sell their vision for him at the club. Typically with German talents this would be a tall order against Bayern Munich. But times have changed and City have every chance of signing El Mala if it is a move Hugo Viana and company are determined to make.