Brighton push ahead in El-Mala talks after formal offer rejected

Brighton have stepped up their pursuit of Köln winger Saïd El-Mala after submitting a formal, written offer last week, with negotiations now accelerating ahead of a potential summer move.

According to reports in Germany, Brighton remain firmly in the driving seat and are pushing to define the framework of a deal as early as possible, signalling clear intent to secure one of their top attacking targets.

SportBILD report that Brighton submitted a concrete written proposal to Köln last week, a move that typically signals a shift from exploratory talks to structured negotiations. Fabian Hürzeler is understood to be a major admirer of El-Mala and has tracked the winger since before his Bundesliga breakthrough.

Brighton first attempted to sign El-Mala last summer with a €15 million bid, but talks stalled. Since then, the Premier League club have maintained close contact and significantly raised their valuation.

Their latest offer, believed to be in the region of €25–30 million plus add-ons, was rejected, though Köln are now open to a summer sale rather than dismissing negotiations outright.

Köln are keen to maximise El-Mala’s value and are weighing whether his price could rise further in the coming weeks. There is, however, a counter-risk: reduced playing time under head coach Lukas Kwasniok could impact both form and market appeal.

Brighton are aware of this balance and are not discouraged by the initial rejection. The expectation within the club was that the first formal bid would be turned down, allowing both sides to define financial parameters before advancing talks.

A crucial development is El-Mala’s own change of position. While the winger had not been considering a move earlier in the season, he has now informed Köln that he is open to leaving, significantly strengthening Brighton’s hand.

Financial terms are a decisive factor. Brighton are offering a package worth up to €15 million per year including bonuses, compared to a maximum of around €1.5 million annually at Köln. The gulf is one Bundesliga clubs are unable to bridge, with SportBILD suggesting even Bayern Munich would be reluctant to commit to a €50 million overall investment.

Brighton have also introduced a personal incentive by indicating they are willing to sign El-Mala’s brother, Malek, as part of the deal. The brothers have played together throughout their careers, and the chance to continue that partnership is seen as a major attraction.

For Köln, a significant sale would unlock funds to secure multiple players currently on loan and strengthen the squad more broadly, adding further incentive to reach an agreement.

Negotiations are expected to continue over the coming weeks as Brighton look to refine their offer and bring Köln closer to acceptance. While no agreement is imminent, the groundwork has been laid and both clubs are now operating within clearly defined parameters. Much will depend on Köln’s valuation strategy and whether they opt for certainty now or risk waiting.

Should Brighton push even harder to close this deal early, or wait to see if Köln’s stance softens as the summer approaches?