According to the newspaper “Sport,” Barcelona is closely monitoring Said El Mala, the Cologne star, with a view to potentially signing him in the upcoming summer transfer window.
El Mala, who is of Lebanese descent and has represented the German national team, is considered one of the Bundesliga’s standout players this year after his impressive performances with newly promoted Cologne. He has attracted the attention of several top clubs.
The report states that Hansi Flick is following the Bundesliga closely and has witnessed El Mala’s remarkable development, making him a primary target to bolster the left wing position next summer.
Barcelona will face stiff competition if they wish to sign the 19-year-old, as Bayern Munich has already begun their pursuit of El Mala, and he is also on the radar of several Premier League clubs.
Cologne has set a €50 million price tag for Al-Mulla, according to the German newspaper Bild, a figure that seems beyond Barcelona’s reach at present unless Joan Laporta’s administration manages to resolve the club’s financial crisis before next summer.
Barcelona’s management has not yet decided whether to make Marcus Rashford’s move permanent, especially given the player’s inconsistent form. This has led club officials to explore other available options in the market, including El Mala.
Last year, El Mala played in the German third division with Viktoria Köln, Cologne’s reserve team, scoring 14 goals as a winger and delivering impressive performances.
This season, El Mala has made 10 appearances for Cologne’s first team, scoring four goals in his debut season. He has also been called up for the current international break for the first time by coach Julian Nagelsmann.
