- Aston Villa are said to be considering a move for German wonderkid Saïd El Mala
- It is highly likely he will leave FC Köln this summer with the Premier League one of the possible destination
- Brighton and Newcastle are also interested
Aston Villa’s pursuit of a new winger continues, with Saïd El Mala the latest to be of interest to the Midlands club. The 19-year-old is a rising star and is expected to leave FC Köln this summer. He has been likened to Liverpool’s Florian Wirtz.
In January, Brighton looked like they were going to secure his signature, but had two offers worth £24 million and £27 million rejected. European football expert Andy Brassell suggests it was the uncertainty of Fabian Hürzeler’s future at the Amex that made the deal collapse.
talkSPORT has revealed that Köln has now put a £43 million price tag on him, which may be a step too far for Brighton to rekindle their interest in the summer.
Meanwhile, both Villa and Newcastle are firmly in the race to sign the future star; however, with the Villans likely to secure Champions League football, you would say they would have the upper hand.
Can he make the jump to the Premier League?
El Mala is having a breakout season at Köln. He has played 31 times in the Bundesliga, scoring eleven goals and providing four assists. The young German is regarded as one of the club’s brightest talents. He also recently opened his account for Germany’s U-21s.
Brassel believes the No 13 is at the level required to compete in the Premier League.
“I think you’re looking at a player who could have a really good first season in the Premier League. He could be effective from the get-go. He’s direct, he’ll score. He’s someone who can play as a winger and as a wide forward. So I think that is really all part of what makes him so exciting.
“I don’t think Aston Villa are going to continue with Jadon Sancho. So he’s a different type of wide player, but similar coming in from the left-hand side. I think the idea of developing under Unai Emery would be really great.
“But just because Brighton have stepped back for the moment, I’m not convinced it’s necessarily off the table, but I’m pretty sure he’ll end up in the Premier League.”
Aston Villa fit
El Mala certainly fits the mould of an “Emery-type” winger. The Spaniard prefers his wingers to be inverted, so they can cut inside and drive towards the box. This is especially the case on the left, which is El Mala’s primary position, to allow the left-back to overlap to create an overload.
However, defensive discipline is a key trait in Emery’s players. It will be something the German will have to work on. The physical demands of the Premier League are far more taxing than the Bundesliga, requiring a large period of adaptation, as seen with previous new signings at the club.
Despite this, he is an exciting talent, and given his age, there is no better person to help him reach his potential than Emery.
Ultimately, any potential deal will come down to whether Villa can afford the price. A £43 million fee is a significant investment for a club battling with the financial rules. But, with the promise El Mala has, there could be a substantial upside.
