Brighton reportedly saw a bid for FC Köln’s Said El Mala rejected during the January transfer window.
The Seagulls have been keen to sign the forward for a matter of months, having previously attempted to lure the German to the Amex Stadium over the summer before he had even made his senior debut.
El Mala has since impressed for Köln, scoring three goals and registering two assists in 22 appearances in all competitions. His displays have also caught the eye of top European clubs, including Liverpool and Chelsea.
The 19-year-old had previously insisted that he would not be on the move over January, with a sale at the end of the season deemed the likeliest outcome of the growing interest. However, Brighton attempted to steal a march on rival suitors.
According to Sport Bild, Brighton tabled an offer worth between £21million and £25m plus add-ons for El Mala, but Köln promptly rejected the bid.
With the January transfer window drawing to a close at that time, the Bundesliga side felt that the approach came too late, and they were not able to negotiate a deal as a result. The overall fee fell below their asking price for the teenager too.
Brighton are expected to continue pushing for El Mala despite the rejection, and they will certainly be encouraged by how the player is now seeking an exit from the RheinEnergieSTADION.
The No. 13 has grown frustrated by his lack of minutes in recent weeks, and El Mala has now informed the higher powers of Köln that he wants to leave the club at the end of the season. He is favouring a move to the Premier League.
If the Germany Under-21 international decides to head to the Sussex coast, he could also be joined by his older brother Malek El Mala, who also plays for Köln but is yet to feature for their first team.
Brighton are said to have pushed to sign the playmaker in January as well, seeing a bid rejected for the 20-year-old. The Seagulls had hoped to acquire the services of Malek and develop him in the Premier League 2 for the remainder of the campaign.
Both players are still highly admired by Brighton, and it remains to be seen whether they will be pursued before the summer transfer window even opens to avoid a bidding war with rival suitors.