Long-time linked forward Said El Mala was at one point deemed high up on Borussia Dortmund's shortlist for attacking players this summer, but the club looks set to go elsewhere for forward line reinforcements.
Are Borussia Dortmund Making The Correct Decision?
Why is Said El Mala so highly sought after?
The versatile German forward Said El Mala is of high interest to several clubs around Europe this summer. This follows a 17-goal and assist return in his debut Bundesliga campaign for FC Koln, the season just gone.
Brentford Were Close To Finalising A Deal, But Fell At The Final Hurdle.
Said El Mala looked set to sign for Premier League side Brentford earlier on in the transfer window, with a fee of around €50 million, a club record transfer for Brentford, reportedly agreed between the two clubs.
However, following the passing of a deadline set by Brentford for Said El Mala and his representatives, which happens to be his mother primarily, to confirm the deal on their end, the move collapsed as Said El Mala and his representatives couldn't agree on terms with the London-based club.
Borussia Dortmund sensed an opportunity
This then presented a possible opening for Borussia Dortmund to swoop in and sign Said El Mala themselves.
His player profile would have fitted Borussia Dortmund well, and he was exactly the sort of player the club were looking for this summer, especially with the potential rumoured outgoings of Serhou Guirassy and/or Karim Adeyemi, and at just 19 years old, it was seen as a move with plenty of potential there to be nurtured.
Brett Davis-Imagn ImagesDeal Off For Borussia Dortmund?
However, it has been reported by BILD that despite Borussia Dortmund showing a clear interest in the forward, they will not be proceeding with a deal for Said El Mala as things stand.
This is due to the financial package involved in making this deal happen being considered too high for Borussia Dortmund to go ahead with the deal. FC Koln are reportedly demanding a fee of around €50 million, a figure that Borussia Dortmund are quite simply not willing to pay.
Author's Verdict
So, despite Borussia Dortmund needing a forward line signing this summer and Said El Mala already showing he can do it in the Bundesliga after his performances for FC Koln, the club has deemed the price tag too high.
Now, while this may come across as Borussia Dortmund perhaps being cheap or not showing enough ambition, in reality, this could be a sensible decision.
If Borussia Dortmund don't see value in a player, or not the value that FC Koln, in this case are placing on Said El Mala, then the club should look elsewhere. And €50 million for a player who has played just one season in the Bundesliga does seem quite high, so maybe Borussia Dortmund are making the right call here; only time will tell.
