Manchester United have made contact with German club Koln to discuss the potential transfer of Said El Mala at the end of the season, according to SportBild.
The Red Devils bolstered their attacking department with three quality signings last summer.
Bryan Mbeumo has been a revelation with eight goal involvements. Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko have chipped in with two goals and an assist apiece.
SportBild now claim that United have ‘contacted’ Koln for El Mala through authorised agents and enquired about the club’s willingness to transfer the player.
The Red Devils have indicated they are willing to spend £26-35 million on the winger next summer.
The trend is reportedly towards England, with Tottenham Hotspur also interested in the 19-year-old. El Mala ‘sees his next step’ being in the Premier League.
United planning swoop for highly-rated El Mala
Koln secured promotion back to the German top-flight this season. El Mala has been phenomenal for them despite averaging only 47 minutes per league game.
The teenager has primarily played as a left winger for his club, but has made three appearances upfront. He has caught the eye with six goals and three assists so far.
The German youth international has won an average of almost four duels per outing. He has also averaged 1.5 dribbles with 1.6 recoveries in the Bundesliga.
El Mala still needs to improve his distribution, having managed only seven passes per match, but he has excelled with nine goal contributions in just 656 minutes.
His knack for goal involvements has caught United’s radar, but they still face competition for his services. Aside from Spurs, Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain are keeping tabs, as per SportBild.
At £26-35m, El Mala may not represent a huge investment risk for the Red Devils next summer. He could start off as a backup solution in the attacking midfield department, having also played there for Koln.
Stats from Transfermarkt.com & Sofascore.com