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Sport Bild reports that Borussia Dortmund are backing off in their pursuit of 1. FC Köln phenom Said El Mala for the time being. A recently submitted offer was immediately rejected by the cathedral city club.
Köln remain steadfast in their demand for at least €50m for their starlet. While reports on the exact figures offered by Dortmund vary, it appears as if the two sides are simply too far apart to continue negotiating at present.
How much did Dortmund offer for El Mala?
Sport Bild claims that the total package offered for El Mala amounted to around €40m, consisting of a €34m base transfer fee and €6m in potential bonuses.
Sky Germany, meanwhile, reports that Dortmund tendered an offer featuring a base transfer fee of approximately €26m. A further €16m was included in bonuses, though only half of those add-ons were considered realistically achievable.
If Sky reporting proves true, the BVB bid qualifies as something Köln would understandably considered outrageous. It thus comes as no surprise that die Geißböcke opted to slam the door shut without hesitation.
In any event, Dortmund’s proposal fell short of Köln’s valuation. BVB therefore evidently see no need to improve the offer or engage in further negotiations at this time.
El Mala scored 13 goals and contributed five assists in 34 Bundesliga appearances during his breakout campaign. The 19-year-old is reportedly open to joining Dortmund, but remains under contract with Köln through 2030.
As noted in previous Get German Football News coverage, the intense attention surrounding El Mala has followed the youngster throughout his rapid rise. Köln are nevertheless under no immediate pressure to sell and believe another strong Bundesliga campaign could further increase his value.
For now, Dortmund appear prepared to explore alternative attacking targets rather than meet Köln’s €50m demand.
