Man City have been sending scouts to take a “closer look” at FC Cologne winger Said El Mala, according to reports in the German media.
Sky Sports Germany claim that Pep Guardiola is a big admirer of the 19-year-old’s talent, and he has been watching videos of the teenager in action.
El Mala has recently been called up by Germany’s senior squad by head coach Julian Nagelsmann. He was on the bench for the 4-0 win over Luxembourg last month, but he is yet to receive his first cap.
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His call-up was a reward for a strong start to the campaign for Cologne, having scored 4 goals and provided 2 assists in 12 appearances.
A host of clubs are monitoring El Mala
Bild reporter Tobias Altschaffl verified City’s interest in the German Under 21 international at the start of November. However, there are several other teams keeping tabs on his progress.
It is believed that Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Chelsea, Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain are also interested in El Mala, but his future destination will depend on who is prepared to stump up the cash.
Man City already know the player’s price tag
Sky Sports Germany report that Cologne will demand €40m (£35m) for El Mala if any club makes an approach either during the January transfer window or at the end of the season.
That’s a sizeable increase on the €350,000 they paid city rivals Viktoria Cologne for the youngster in the summer of 2024. His current asking price is expected to put off other German teams, including Bayern and Dortmund.
It remains to be seen whether City will baulk at such a fee as well. Guardiola seems to be a big fan of El Mala, and that may influence the decision to pursue his signature in the future.
Read more about the Man City First Team Squad for 2025/26 here