Cologne expect to keep Said El Mala despite transfer interest

Thomas Kessler says Cologne expect to keep Said El Mala for the rest of the season, despite the attention surrounding the winger. The club are not planning to sell him in the January transfer window, while his performances continue to attract interest. “If a top club calls at some point, we can certainly discuss a transfer,” the sporting director said. He stressed, however, that the player’s career is primarily in his own hands and said he has no doubt that El Mala can develop into an international top player.

Kessler said the club’s immediate priority is to keep El Mala in the squad as he continues to develop. “In football, you should never rule anything out categorically,” he added, while making clear that Cologne are firmly planning for the rest of the season with Said. He said the contract extension was not signed without reason and that he currently has no reason to concern himself with a winter move. The shared focus, he said, is on the player’s continued progress and the team’s success.

The 20-year-old winger extended his contract until 2031 in August, following discussions about his future. The deal gives Cologne a long-term position from which to negotiate if serious interest emerges. Bild reports that Premier League interest persists, though no concrete offer has been reported. El Mala has made significant progress at Cologne and recently made his senior debut for Germany.