Liverpool and Chelsea are both watching the same market again. This time, the focus is on Germany. More specifically, on a young winger who is starting to draw wider attention without much noise around him yet. According to German football expert Christian Falk, both clubs are among those tracking FC Köln’s Said El Mala. The interest is not isolated. It fits a broader pattern. Top Premier League sides are scanning for young, left-sided attackers who can grow into bigger roles rather than arrive as finished products. El Mala, still only 19, has done enough to put himself on that list.
WHY SAID EL MALA IS ATTRACTING ATTENTION
El Mala’s numbers stand out when placed in context. He has six goals and two assists this season. That return has come without being a regular starter. Minutes have been managed. Opportunities have been limited. Impact has still followed.
He plays wide, but he does not stay glued to the touchline. He drifts inside, looks for pockets and carries the ball aggressively. Defenders are forced into decisions. Those traits matter. Clubs are less interested in raw pace alone now. They want players who can read space and adapt within structured systems. El Mala shows that early. He is also already a Germany Under-21 international. That exposure adds weight to the profile. Bigger clubs notice that pathway.
🇩🇪 Said El Mala (Köln, 19)
◉ Offensive duels won: 100th percentile
◉ Touches in box: 98th percentile
◉ Non-penalty goals: 94th percentile
◉ Non-penalty xG: 92nd percentile
◉ Aerial duels won %: 84th percentile
No player has more dribbles per 100 touches in the Top 7… pic.twitter.com/ReFn6tlmtX
— DataMB (@DataMB_) November 18, 2025
WHAT CHRISTIAN FALK REPORTED
Writing in his CF Bayern Insider column, Falk explained how the winger market is shaping up in Germany. His focus was Bayern Munich, but the picture extended beyond them.
Bayern are considering younger options to add competition on the left. Yan Diomande of RB Leipzig is one name. Said El Mala is another. The difference lies in accessibility. Diomande is under contract until 2030. That makes him expensive. El Mala’s situation is different. His rise has been quick, but Köln do not hold the same leverage as Leipzig.
That reality has drawn attention from outside Germany. Falk named Liverpool and Chelsea as clubs with El Mala on their list. Tottenham and Manchester City were also mentioned in the wider conversation. The idea is shared. The execution will differ.
WHY LIVERPOOL ARE WATCHING
Liverpool’s interest fits their recent recruitment logic. They have mixed experience with young wide players, but the strategy has not changed. They want attackers who can be developed without immediate pressure to carry the team. El Mala would not arrive as a starter. He would arrive as an option. Someone to be shaped.
Liverpool also offer stability. Their pathway is clearer. Minutes are harder to earn, but roles are defined. That appeals to certain profiles. The question would be patience. From both sides.
WHY CHELSEA APPEAL TOO
Chelsea offer something different. Opportunity. Volume. A system built around youth recruitment. For a player like El Mala, that can be tempting. The club are not shy about giving minutes to young players. Development is part of the pitch.
At the same time, uncertainty remains. Roles change quickly. Projects reset often. That makes decision-making harder for players at this stage. El Mala would need clarity. Without it, the appeal fades.
WHAT COMES NEXT
Nothing feels immediate. No bids. No deadlines. Just monitoring. El Mala’s situation will depend on timing, price, and promise of minutes. Köln know interest is building. They will want to protect value. For Liverpool and Chelsea, this is about positioning early rather than acting now. January may pass quietly. Summer feels more realistic.
AUTHOR’S INSIGHT
This feels like the early stage of a familiar story. El Mala has done enough to be noticed, not enough to force a move yet. Liverpool and Chelsea are watching, not committing. The next six months will matter more than the next six weeks. If his impact keeps growing, this will not stay quiet for long.
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As featured on Chelseanews.com