Brighton and Hove Albion are ready to make an improved bid for Said El Mala in the January transfer window. That’s despite the player ruling out a move publicly.
Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger report that Brighton appear to be determined to beat top European sides to El Mala’s signature by moving in January.
They’re long-term admirers of the winger, who is currently taking the Bundesliga by storm. They tried to sign him in the summer, but saw their advances rejected.
Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger say Tony Bloom doesn’t care, though. He’s watched the player since he shone in the third division in Germany and is determined to get him.
After seeing a €15m bid, €12m plus €3m and a 20% sell-on clause, rejected in the summer, he is now planning another attempt. Their offer in the January transfer window will be ‘significantly higher’ than the last one. It will reflect his ‘considerably increased’ market value and include a sell-on clause.
Cologne, for their part, are insistent that El Mala is not for sale in the January transfer window. Vice-president Ulf Sobek, however, has denied any agreements are in place before then.
Managing Director Philipp Türoff has been equally adamant that the winger won’t be sold next month.
“There are absolutely no plans and no reason to even consider selling the player during the winter transfer window,” he said when asked about the matter.
“For us as a newly promoted team, staying in the league is the top priority; everything else is secondary. And we hope that Said, with his talent, can contribute to us achieving that goal,”
El Mala too, has insisted he won’t be going anywhere. Only a ‘phenomenal offer’ would change their mind. The newspaper makes it clear that Brighton’s incoming bid wouldn’t qualify as that.
Their stance comes after a meeting with El Mala, his agent and the club to discuss the matter. They agreed a winter transfer is not an option and that “direct sale” can be ruled out. That, though, leaves room for interpretation.
Brighton have, in the past, signed players in January but left them at their clubs for the remainder of the season. Such a deal could work out again for all parties this time around. And it would ensure the Seagulls get their man ahead of big European competition.
