After seeing their fourth offer for Cologne’s Said El Mala rejected, Borussia Dortmund have temporarily pulled out of the race to sign the young starlet.
According to a report by Florian Plettenberg, Cologne are demanding at least €50m guaranteed for El Mala, who scored 13 goals and provided five assists in his maiden Bundesliga season.
BVB’s reported €55m offer including bonuses wasn’t enough for the Billy Goats – as it fell short of the guaranteed €50m up front that Cologne wanted. Plettenberg adds that Dortmund are becoming frustrated with their Bundesliga counterparts, who are standing firm on their valuation for El Mala.
In the event that El Mala does leave, they’ve already eyed up a replacement: Zaglebie Lubin’s Marcel Regula (19), who scored five goals and created a further five in 31 appearances in Poland’s Ekstraklasa last season, in addition to already opening his account this campaign.
GGFN | Daniel Pinder
