Dortmund's Bid for El Mala Rejected by Köln

Borussia Dortmund is on the lookout for a replacement for Karim Adeyemi, and their recent offer for desired player Said El Mala has been swiftly turned down by 1. FC Köln.

Said El Mala has been a name frequently linked with Dortmund, having previously attracted interest from several Premier League clubs, notably Brighton. However, there were lingering doubts from the player's camp regarding a potential move.

This has prompted Dortmund to take action, as revealed by Sky in their "Transfer Update." The Bundesliga side not only expressed interest but also submitted a formal bid.

Dortmund’s Offer Falls Short

According to reports, Dortmund's proposal included a fixed fee of 26 million euros, along with potential bonuses that could reach up to 16 million euros. Despite these figures, Köln rejected the offer outright upon its arrival at their headquarters.

Köln's Demands for El Mala

Sky reports that while El Mala is generally open to a move to Dortmund, the current offer is significantly below Köln's expectations. The club is reportedly seeking a base fee of 40 million euros, with a total asking price of 50 million euros—matching the offer previously made by FC Brentford.


For Dortmund to secure El Mala, they will need to increase their offer, ideally without delay, as there are likely to be other clubs interested in the player.

Köln appears to be in a comfortable position, having already made a lucrative sale of Jakub Kaminski. This alleviates any pressing need to sell, meaning that the right price must be met. Reports suggest that El Mala is putting in a strong effort in training, and Köln has also prepared a backup plan just in case a deal does not materialize.