Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly entered a high-stakes battle to sign 1. FC Köln winger Saïd El Mala, who is widely considered one of the most exciting young talents in European football.
According to a report from Sport Bild on December 17, 2025, both Premier League clubs have made concrete inquiries through intermediaries to express their interest in the 19-year-old ahead of the summer 2026 transfer window.
Both the Red Devils and Spurs have indicated a willingness to pay a fee in the region of £30.7m to £35m (€35m–€40m). However, Köln is reportedly holding out for a figure closer to £52.7m (€60m) for their prized asset.
The two English clubs face stiff competition from a “who’s who” of European giants, including:
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Manchester City
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Bayern Munich
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Paris Saint-Germain (PSG)
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Barcelona
El Mala’s ascent has been nothing short of remarkable. After moving to Köln from Viktoria Köln in the summer of 2025, he has taken the Bundesliga by storm:
Current Form: 6 goals and 3 assists in 14 league appearances this season.
National Recognition: His explosive pace and technical flair earned him his first senior Germany call-up from Julian Nagelsmann in November 2025 for World Cup qualifiers.
Youth Pedigree: He was a standout performer at the UEFA European Under-19 Championship, where he finished as joint-top scorer (4 goals) and was named in the Team of the Tournament.
For Manchester United, the pursuit of El Mala aligns with Ruben Amorim’s reported desire to inject more youth and dynamic pace into the squad’s wide areas. Meanwhile, Tottenham, currently led by Thomas Frank, sees the German international as a perfect long-term fit for their high-intensity attacking system.
While a January move is considered unlikely as El Mala prefers to complete the season in Germany, the groundwork for a massive summer bidding war is officially underway.
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