Brentford have reportedly suffered a major setback in their pursuit of FC Cologne forward Said El Mala after a surprise intervention from the player's camp brought a proposed transfer to a halt.
The Bees appeared to be on the verge of completing one of the biggest deals in their recent history after agreeing terms with the German club. However, reports in Germany now claim the move has been blocked at the final stage.
According to BILD, El Mala's mother, who also acts as his representative, informed Brentford that the 19-year-old will not be making the move to west London this summer.
Brentford had agreement in place
The rejection comes despite Brentford meeting Cologne's demands.
Reports indicate the Premier League club were prepared to pay €45 million plus a further €5 million in performance-related bonuses for the highly-rated attacker.
The deal had progressed to the point where final details were being discussed between the clubs.
Cologne sporting director Thomas Kessler was reportedly ready to take the agreement to the club's supervisory board for final approval, while El Mala himself was enjoying a summer break ahead of what many expected to be a major transfer.
Everything appeared to be moving towards completion.
Last-minute decision changes everything
The situation changed dramatically on Thursday.
According to the report, El Mala's mother delivered what has been described as a "transfer bombshell" by informing Brentford that the move would not proceed.
The belief within the player's camp is that joining Brentford at this stage of his career is not the right step.
That decision was reportedly made despite the significant financial package on offer.
El Mala was expected to earn around €4 million per year if the move had gone ahead, underlining the scale of Brentford's commitment to securing the youngster's signature.
Newcastle and other clubs could benefit
The collapse of the deal does not necessarily mean El Mala will remain at Cologne.
Instead, reports suggest the player and his representatives are prepared to wait and see what opportunities emerge later in the transfer window.
Newcastle United have already been mentioned as admirers, while other Premier League clubs are also believed to be monitoring the situation.
The feeling within the player's camp is reportedly that the English transfer market becomes more active later in the summer, particularly during August.
That belief has encouraged them to remain patient rather than commit immediately.
Having followed recent Premier League transfer windows closely, it is not uncommon for highly-rated young players to receive stronger interest once clubs complete priority business elsewhere. That appears to be the gamble El Mala's camp are willing to take.
Key Points
- Brentford agreed a deal worth up to €50m for Said El Mala.
- The move was reportedly blocked by the player's mother and representative.
- Cologne were prepared to approve the transfer.
- Newcastle United are among the clubs credited with interest.
- El Mala's camp are willing to wait for further offers later in the summer.
What’s next?
Brentford must now decide whether to revisit the deal later in the window or switch their focus to alternative targets.
Meanwhile, El Mala and his representatives are expected to assess interest from across Europe before making a final decision on his future. Newcastle and other Premier League clubs could yet emerge as serious contenders if they decide to formalise their interest in the coming weeks.
Did Said El Mala's camp make the right decision by rejecting Brentford, or should the young forward have taken the opportunity while it was available?
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