The £39m winger Chelsea can snatch from Brighton's clutches this summer
Chelsea and Brighton could be at the centre of transfer drama once again this summer.
With the summer transfer window now just a matter of months away, speculation is beginning to build involving Premier League clubs up and down the country as they prepare to make reinforcements ahead of next season.
Two clubs who are often at the centre of major transfer stories are Chelsea and Brighton & Hove Albion. The Blues have been known to swoop for several of Albion’s top stars in recent years, including Moisés Caicedo, Marc Cucurella and, most recently, João Pedro. While this has seen the Seagulls accrue vast profits for such players, it has come at the detriment of their quest to become a regular European challenger in the Premier League.
Chelsea are reportedly set to deal Brighton another blow in the upcoming summer window – this time, though, involving a star on the rise who is a top target for both clubs.
Chelsea aim for major Said El Mala transfer hijack over Brighton
According to reports by Sport Witness, Chelsea have joined Brighton in the race for Bundesliga winger Said El Mala and have been handed a key advantage as they look to trump Albion in the race.
The 19-year-old has become a key player in his very first season playing at the top level for Köln, scoring 10 goals and providing four assists to draw significant interest from England. The youngster is targeting a place in Germany’s World Cup squad and could see his profile raised yet further if he earns a spot and performs well in North America this summer.
Brighton have reportedly had bids for El Mala rejected in the last two transfer windows, with their next offer set to be their ‘final one’. But Chelsea are prepared to bid €45m (£39m) for the winger, €5m more than Köln’s demand. Manchester United and Newcastle have also seen previous links.
Bild report that the player “wants to move to England”, while Brighton head coach Fabian Hürzeler is thought to be a central part of the Seagulls’ pursuit of the 2006-born gem. However, recent reports linking Hürzeler with replacing Kasper Hjulmand at Bayer Leverkusen might deal a massive blow to their chances and give Chelsea a clear advantage in the race for El Mala – the situation involving Hürzeler “plays into the hands of Chelsea” and could prolong a summer transfer saga involving the two clubs. If El Mala signs for Brighton and Hurzeler then quickly departs the club, it would be a ‘horror scenario’ for the player.
Could El Mala be on his way to Stamford Bridge this summer?
Chelsea have spent huge sums of money on young wide players in recent transfer windows, but yet the left-wing position has not been nailed down by any of Alejandro Garnacho, Jamie Gittens or Pedro Neto and the free-scoring El Mala could be viewed as an exciting addition.
His numbers represent his status as a player rapidly on the rise and it is no surprise that Chelsea are prepared to make a move, such is their prolific nature when it comes to hoovering up many of the most highly-rated young players across Europe and the world.
Brighton are always on the search for their next superstar in the making and will hope to have European football to offer prospective signings next season, as they remain firmly in the running for a top seven finish in the Premier League.
El Mala has become one of the most exciting young players in the Bundesliga over recent months and undoubtedly has a high ceiling if he continues on his current trajectory. He is under contract until 2030 and so it will take a major offer to convince Koln to sell so soon, particularly if the teenager plays his way into contention for the World Cup. If Chelsea are to swoop and steal his signature from under Brighton’s noses, it would be a significant blow for the ambitious south coast side.