Chelsea suffer transfer setback as Blues 'fall behind' London club in race for 19-year-old Bundesliga star

Chelsea person reportedly fallen down Brentford successful the contention to motion Koln attacker Said El Mala.

The 19-year-old enjoyed an awesome 2025-26 run successful the German apical formation aft returning from a indebtedness spell with Viktoria Koln past summer.

El Mala scored 13 goals successful 34 Bundesliga appearances, six much than immoderate of his Koln teammates. 

The youngster, who besides provided 4 assists, besides showcased his attacking versatility by operating arsenic a winger, attacking midfielder and centre guardant during antithetic stages of the season. 

Not lone has El Mala caught the attraction of Germany brag Julian Nagelsmann, but helium has besides emerged arsenic a imaginable transportation people for a fig of Premier League clubs.

Brentford bargain march connected Chelsea successful El Mala race

Chelsea are among those showing an interest as they look to bring successful attacking reinforcements up of Xabi Alonso's archetypal play successful charge. 

However, according to TEAMtalk, the Blues are trailing Brentford successful the contention to motion the German teen this summer.

The Bees person already been successful interaction with El Mala's campy and are said to beryllium 'working hard' to seal a transportation for a subordinate who is besides attracting involvement from Brighton & Hove Albion. 

El Mala is understood to beryllium unfastened to a determination to the Gtech Community Stadium, having been impressed by the club's estimation for processing up-and-coming talent. 

Brentford are present preparing to unfastened 'formal' negotiations with Koln, though it remains to beryllium seen whether they tin scope an statement implicit a transportation fee. 

What is El Mala's asking price?

The Bundesliga broadside are believed to beryllium demanding upwards of €50m (£43.3m) to portion ways with 1 of their astir prized assets.

Koln are successful a comparatively beardown negotiating position, with El Mala's existent declaration acceptable to tally until the summertime of 2030.

The Bees are susceptible of gathering Koln's asking price, and they volition beryllium alert that negotiations request to advancement rapidly if they are to fend disconnected rival interest. 

Brentford volition beryllium hoping to sweeten the woody by offering El Mala the accidental to play European football, but that volition beryllium connected the result of the last time of the Premier League season.

Keith Andrews's broadside are sitting successful ninth spot and extracurricular the Conference League spot connected extremity quality up of Sunday's distant clash with Liverpool. 

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