Newcastle United are pushing to sign FC Cologne winger Said El Mala, according to reports in Germany.
Kicker lists the Magpies along with Chelsea and Brighton as among the “Premier League trio” hoping to secure the teenager’s signature at the end of the season.
El Mala has had a breakout campaign with Cologne, having scored 8 goals and provided 4 assists in 25 league appearances.
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There is no release clause in the 19-year-old’s contract and Kicker suggest that could lead to a “million dollar” auction for the player this summer.
How much would El Mala cost?
The Athletic reporter David Ornstein revealed last month that Brighton tabled an offer for the German international during the January transfer window.
That bid was said to be worth €30m (£26m) with a 10% sell-on clause, but the proposal was rejected by Cologne, who deemed him indispensable in their fight against relegation.
Things are likely to be different in the summer, but there are suggestions that El Mala’s club could now hold out for around €50m (£43m) due to the number of teams interested in signing him.
Where would the player fit into Newcastle’s starting lineup?
El Mala is two-footed so he can play on either wing. Manager Eddie Howe is well-stocked on the left flank, with both Harvey Barnes and Anthony Gordon in the squad, although the latter has been linked with a transfer away from St James’ Park.
On the opposite side, Anthony Elanga has struggled since joining from Nottingham Forest last year, and El Mala could well be seen as an option to provide more competition for the Swedish international.
He could potentially replace Jacob Murphy. The 31-year-old is closing in on the final year of his contract, and a decision will have to be made on his future soon.
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