Brighton face hurdles in pursuit of Köln talent Said El Mala | OneFootball

Germany’s Express tabloid reports that Brighton are preparing the challenge the “un-sellable” status of FC Köln talent Said El Mala. The Premier League outfit are reported to be preparing an offer in the double-digit-millions for the Germany U19 international. El Mala’s Bundesliga club will obviously need to see such figures in order to consider parting company with their €3m-valued talent.

Speaking to the same German tabloid late last month, former Köln personnel boss Christian Keller revealed that he believed El Mala “will be the most expensive departure in FC history.” Newly appointed Köln head coach Kwasniok also commented on El Mala’s potential, noting that his mind was completely blown when former club Paderborn contested El Mala’s academy side Viktoria Köln.

“He’s an incredibly good player,” Kwansniok – as quoted by transfermarkt.de – noted. “We once had a friendly against Viktoria Köln. He really turned our right-back inside out. I didn’t know him at all before that, but afterwards I thought: Wow, what a talent. He’s still developing and we also have to protect him when necessary.”

Köln signed both Said and his older brother Malik from Viktoria last summer, immediately loaning them both out to Viktoria. Said – thanks to an amazing 3. Liga season for club and a stellar campaign with the U19s for country – has increased his estimated market value ten-fold over the past year.

Brighton – the current home for Germany U21 international Brajan Gruda and former St. Pauli head-coach Fabian Hürzeler – possess the means to recruit El Mala to the Isle. The youngster – who has still not made an appearance for his club – nevertheless also has other suitors too.

Köln’s Geißblog confirms the German tabloid report concerning Brighton while also noting that the cathedral city club already received several transfer offers for El Mala from several clubs in Germany and abroad in recent weeks.

Geißblog emphasizes that die Geißböcke still consider Said “un-sellable”.

GGFN | Peter Weis