Dortmund's bid rejected by Koln
Borussia Dortmund have angered Bundesliga rivals after submitting a €42 million offer for Koln's Said El Mala, a player Brentford were previously linked with. The bid was swiftly rejected by Koln, who remain firm on their valuation despite Dortmund's interest.
El Mala's commitment to Koln
Koln head coach Rene Wagner insists the transfer speculation has not affected the 19-year-old's attitude. "He presents himself as an FC [Koln] player every day and doesn't give any player or staff member the feeling that his mind is elsewhere," Wagner told Sky Sport. The club believes El Mala should command a fee similar to Brentford's previous offer.
Brentford's failed transfer attempt
Brentford had looked set to complete a club-record move for El Mala after agreeing a package worth €45m plus €5m in add-ons and a future sell-on clause with Koln. However, the transfer collapsed when El Mala's mother, who acts as his primary adviser, refused to give final approval before Brentford's deadline expired.
What's next for El Mala?
Dortmund remain interested in El Mala, but Koln are standing firm on their valuation. The 19-year-old has continued to show complete commitment to Koln, with head coach Rene Wagner insisting the transfer speculation has not affected his attitude. Brentford, who finished 9th in the Premier League last season with 53 points, will now look to strengthen their squad ahead of the new season, which begins with a home game against Sunderland on 2026-09-05.
