Manchester City have always had a habit of buying young players with the talent and potential to develop into first-team players. Recently, City have signed players such as Vitor Reis, Abdukodir Khusanov and Rayan Cherki. All three of the players named have the potential to become key players at City in time. Jeremy Doku is another player whom City signed who had the talent and potential to be a world-class winger. It looks as if Doku is now beginning to fulfil that potential so far this season.
Now it has been reported that Manchester City and Pep Guardiola have an interest in bringing FC Köln’s young winger Said El Mala to the club. Said El Mala is one of the brightest young prospects in German football and he fits the bill as the type of player that City look to sign and turn into a key player at the club.
Manchester City and Pep Guardiola have been keeping a close eye on the performances of FC Köln starlet Said El Mala.
Sport Witness has relayed a report from Sky Deutschland that Manchester City have recently sent scouts to watch impressive young FC Köln winger Said El Mala in action. Furthermore, it is reported that Pep Guardiola has recently studied videos of Said El Mala playing in the Bundesliga. Due to this, Pep Guardiola has reportedly ordered Manchester City officials to keep a close eye on Said El Mala’s progress. City scouts were recently dispatched to see the German youth international play it is also reported. It is also reported that FC Köln value Said El Mala at €40 million and that the impressive young winger isn’t in any hurry to leave FC Köln.
Said El Mala looks to be one of Germany’s brightest young prospects and he fits the bill of a typical City signing.
So far this season, Said El Mala has impressed for FC Köln in the Bundesliga. He has made 10 appearances in the Bundesliga this season scoring four goals and contributing two assists. Those are impressive numbers for a 19-year-old. But they only tell part of the story.
Said El Mala has long stood out as one of Germany’s most tantalising and talented young prospects. He is a versatile attacking player who generally does his best work on the left wing and cutting inside onto his right foot. El Mala is a direct winger blessed with tremendous speed and acceleration. Couple this with his tremendous dribbling ability and eye for goal it is easy to see why Said El Mala has caught Manchester City’s eye.
🇩🇪/🇱🇧 Said El Mala (19) has been shining for Köln! He has 4 goal contributions in the Bundesliga so far this campaign. ⭐🪄 pic.twitter.com/AjomqsbSLa
— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) October 25, 2025
Said El Mala is a nightmare for defenders to contain and he has taken to life in the Bundesliga extremely well. It is hard to think of a direct comparison for Said El Mala as a player, but there are shades of Jeremy Doku in his game. Although, Said El Mala is his own player and he is one that will likely make a big move in the near future. He is such a talent that he seems to have the world as his oyster in a footballing sense.
Summary.
It is easy to see why Manchester City are keeping a close eye on Said El Mala. The young winger looks to be the next thing to come out of Germany. He fits the profile of a player who could play a role now for City, but who could also develop into a key player at the club. Whether or not City will move for the FC Köln starlet remains to be seen but he looks to be a player who blossom at Manchester City playing under Pep Guardiola.