VfB Stuttgart is reportedly among several Bundesliga clubs, including Borussia Dortmund, Eintracht Frankfurt, RB Leipzig, and Bayern München, that are waiting for a lower price to sign 19-year-old German winger Said El Mala from 1. FC Köln. According to 'Express', the player's parents, who serve as his advisors, prefer that he remains in Germany. This contrasts with Köln's desire for a high transfer fee, with the club hoping for over €50 million, a sum more likely to be paid by a Premier League team. Brighton & Hove Albion is said to have already withdrawn from the bidding due to the high valuation, and Chelsea has also reportedly withdrawn. 'Express' reports that no interested club is willing to pay much more than €40 million and that after Brighton's withdrawal, Köln currently has no offers. The Germany U21 international is under contract until 2030 and has a current Transfermarkt market value of €35.00m. A €45 million offer from Chelsea was reported in March 2026, while other reports mentioned a potential €25 million offer from Borussia Dortmund. El Mala transferred from Viktoria Köln to 1. FC Köln in July 2024 for a reported €300,000.