Barcelona are closing in on a sensational €60m transfer for a prolific Bundesliga forward as negotiations advance rapidly.
The 19-year-old winger has lit up the Bundesliga with six goals and three assists in 16 appearances, earning a senior Germany call-up and rejecting a €20m Brighton bid that underscores his skyrocketing value.
Barcelona track him closely to bolster Hansi Flick’s attack amid uncertainties like Marcus Rashford’s loan future, but faces fierce rivalry from Manchester City, Bayern Munich, PSG, Manchester United, Tottenham, and even Real Madrid in a transfer poker game.
That sensation is Said El Mala, FC Köln’s left winger, whose blistering pace, one-on-one mastery, and clinical finishing have Bayern labelling him an “absolute priority” for 2026 while positioning him as Barcelona’s ideal profile to refresh their flanks, as reported by Fichajes.
Köln, braced for their priciest sale ever, demand €50-60m given his 2030 contract sans release clause, a figure that dismissed €30-40m probes from United and Spurs and tests Barça’s financial levers post-recent spending.
El Mala’s breakout—top-flight debut season yielding elite stats—fuels the frenzy, with his market value tripling to €18m, yet clubs know summer bids must hit Köln’s ceiling to pry him away.
Barcelona’s interest stems from tactical synergy: his verticality complements Lamine Yamal and elevates Flick’s press, but Deco must navigate fair-play squeezes and rival auctions where Bayern’s domestic pull and City’s chequebook loom large.
The German teen stays focused amid the buzz, but Köln eyes a wage hike to fend off January moves, leaving Barcelona plotting instalments or add-ons for a “one-in-a-million” talent eyeing the Premier League yet open to La Liga glory.
This chase defines 2026’s youth market, pitting Barça’s youth project against financial titans in a battle for the next decade’s wing wizard.
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