Ballon d'Or bonus? Köln fume at Dortmund's El Mala offer

It's being reported that Borussia Dortmund frustrated 1. FC Köln with their recent offer for Said El Mala, largely because the proposed bonus payments were tied to extremely difficult and unrealistic targets.

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Borussia Dortmund recently saw an offer for Said El Mala rejected by 1. FC Köln, according to reports from both Bild and Sky Germany.

Bild reports that BVB’s proposal was worth up to €44 million in total, consisting of €34 million in guaranteed fees and a further €10 million in potential bonuses.

However, with Köln demanding €50 million for El Mala, the offer fell short of the club’s valuation and reportedly caused significant frustration due to the way it was structured.

According to Sky Germany, several of the proposed bonus payments were tied to extremely difficult and unrealistic targets. These reportedly included El Mala being named Bundesliga Player of the Season, finishing as the league’s top scorer and earning a Ballon d’Or nomination.

The report suggests that Köln are no longer willing to sell the 19-year-old to Dortmund, with the club unhappy both with the way the offer was presented and the conditions attached to the bonus payments.

Dortmund’s advantage is that El Mala and his family are reportedly favouring a move within the Bundesliga, having previously rejected interest from AS Roma and Brentford. 

RB Leipzig have also been linked with a move for the teenager, but they are also unlikely to meet Köln’s asking price.