Dream signing looks set to pull out: Will a top Premier League club now go all in on El Mala?

SAID EL MALA KÖLN

Could Said El Mala finally realise his Premier League dream this summer? A top English club has reportedly set its sights on the 1. FC Köln forward.

According to English media, the 19-year-old is increasingly coming into focus at Liverpool FC, as the Reds are likely to come away empty-handed in their pursuit of target player Yan Diomande of RB Leipzig.

According to consistent media reports, Paris Saint-Germain are in pole position to sign Diomande, with an agreement between the French club and the player reportedly already in place.

Should the Ivorian's move to Paris go ahead, Liverpool would have to look for alternatives on the transfer market. El Mala is reportedly the next candidate on their shortlist.

For El Mala, a move to England would mark the next step in his rapid ascent. After transferring from Viktoria Köln to their bigger neighbours last summer, the 19-year-old winger quickly became a key player and fan favourite at Effzeh, scoring 13 goals and providing five assists in the Bundesliga last term. 

Only recently, a move to Brentford FC collapsed at the eleventh hour when the youngster turned down a lucrative contract, even though the Cologne hierarchy had been prepared to grant him a transfer.

Cologne are holding out for a fee of €50m for El Mala.

Financially, the Bundesliga club holds the upper hand: the youngster's contract runs until 2030 and contains no release clause. Sporting director Thomas Kessler has set a clear bottom line—at least €50 million for the attacking gem.

Alongside the cash-rich clubs from England, Borussia Dortmund are also continuing to show interest. With Brighton & Hove Albion having withdrawn from the race, BVB are now considered the frontrunners in Germany. 

However, according to Express, the Black and Yellows are not prepared to pay the full 50 million euros up front. Instead, sources close to the club are exploring a creative structure to sweeten the deal for Cologne.

However, Liverpool could now throw a spanner in the works by making a swift, serious move.