Newcastle and Chelsea are set to battle it out over German sensation Said El Mala in this summer’s transfer window.
According to Kicker, the two Premier League clubs are looking to add the 19-year-old to their squads next season. El Mala joined FC Koln from Viktoria Koln in 2024, but he spent the following season back on loan at his former club.
He made his Bundesliga debut in August, coming off the bench in a 1-0 away win against Mainz. In the following game, he made an impact from the bench, scoring his first Bundesliga goal in a 4-1 win over Freiburg.
El Mala has since added seven more goals, along with four assists, in the league. He is regarded as one of the most exciting young talents in German football.
Newcastle battle Chelsea for El Mala
El Mala has recently changed his representatives, with his parents, Sabrina and Mohammed, now acting as his agents. Brighton previously showed interest in the winger and reportedly had a €30 million offer rejected for him in January, per Bullinews.
The Magpies will come in with ‘strong bids’ in the summer transfer window alongside Chelsea. Koln are considering a potential bid of around €50 million if he leaves this summer.
El Mala may well struggle for game time in London, with plenty of competition out on the flanks. But he has the backing of Bayern Munich boss Vincent Kompany to be a huge success.
Kompany waxed lyrical earlier this season when his Bayern side met Koln in the DFB-Pokal. He said during a pre-match press conference:
“This kid has this initial acceleration and then a second burst of speed. That surprises many defenders. He can shoot from that high speed. That feeling of being inactive and then suddenly launching a full-scale counter-attack is, of course, a quality you can use throughout your entire career.”
| Said El Mala (Bundesliga 2025-26) | Statistic |
|---|---|
| Appearances: | 25 |
| Goals: | 8 |
| Assists: | 3 |
| Total shots: | 1.9 |
| Goal conversion: | 17% |
| Successful dribbles: | 1.4 (41%) |
| Ground duels won: | 2.6 (41%) |
Gordon replacement?
Recent reports from Football Insider have also linked Anthony Gordon with a move away from St James’ Park this summer, with Arsenal and Liverpool circling the 25-year-old. If Gordon were to leave Newcastle this summer, the pathway into the first team for El Mala could be open.
The English winger has made 42 appearances across competitions this season, posting 15 goals and five assists. He will have five years left on his contract this summer.
