Championship club Southampton were strongly interested in German playmaker Said El Mala in the summer transfer window, and reportedly made a ‘big offer’ for the FC Köln star, who is widely-regarded as the future of German football.
Southampton Sporting Director Johannes Spors clearly feels his expertise lies in his homeland – the Saints spent over £30m on four separate signings from Germany in the summer transfer window, and El Mala would have been the fifth.
The 19-year-old, who can play all across the attack of a team, is now facing interest from British giant Manchester United.
However, speaking with Kicker, the 19-year-old recently stated: “I think it’s normal that when you’re a young player and you get a few points in the Bundesliga, several clubs come calling.”
“I’m aware of it, but it doesn’t affect me. It’s a nice recognition of my performance, but I’m fully focused on FC Cologne and will stay here through the winter transfer window.”
Unless Manchester United are willing to pay through the roof to gain his services, it is clear El Mala won’t be desperate to tear himself away from FC Köln in January.
Whilst Southampton and Spors will be miffed that they missed out on a potential superstar, the club did manage to secure the services of midfielder Caspar Jander, who is highly regarded in Germany, even by Real Madrid legend Toni Kroos.
Kroos’ brother said after the transfer took place earlier this year: “How many have gone there [to the English second-tier] and never been heard from again? [Jander is] a very great German talent.
[The transfer annoys me] off purely from a sporting and personal perspective.”
The Saints may have missed out on El Mala, but they have a superb midfield talent in Jander.
If the media backlash in Germany was so big for Jander signing for a second-tier club, imagine the outrage if El Mala ended up doing the same!
It truly shows that patience can be a virtue in football – El Mala will now have the pick of the bunch if he decides to make a move in his career.
