BUNDESLIGA GEM: IS €40M SAID EL MALA THE ANSWER FOR TOTTENHAM
Tottenham seeks more firepower on the left wing. Is 19-year-old German youth star Said El Mala the perfect fit for 2026?
Tottenham Hotspur might fight with their hands to get a young, talented winger from the Bundesliga. Some big European clubs are also interested.
Spurs brought in Mohammed Kudus over the summer, made Mathys Tel’s loan a done deal, and have Wilson Odobert in the team. But it still looks like they need someone to really fill Heung-min Son’s spot on the left wing.
Tottenham Hotspur Looking at Another Bundesliga Attacker
Besides signing Tel for good, the north London club spent a good amount to bring Xavi Simons over from the Bundesliga.
After a tough start, the young duo are still trying to make a name for themselves in the Premier League. But that hasn’t stopped Spurs from looking at the German market.
According to a report from Bild, Spurs are now in the running for FC Koln winger Said El Mala.
The same paper said earlier this week that Manchester City, Manchester United, Bayern Munich, PSG, and Barcelona are all keeping an eye on the German youth international as well.
Bild also said that Brighton & & Hove Albion offered €20m for the attacker last summer, but the Bundesliga team turned it down.
Word is that Koln wants to wait until next summer to sell. They’re hoping for a price between €50m and €60m, but Premier League teams watching him think he’s worth up to €40m.
The 19-year-old has scored six goals and made three assists in 14 Bundesliga games so far this season, mostly playing on the left.
StadiumNest thinks this could be a good move for Tottenham if they can make it happen.
But that’s not going to be easy, with so many big clubs interested. El Mala is under contract until 2030, so Köln can sit back and try to get the best price.
Still, Spurs could use some more attacking power on that left side, and a guy like El Mala might be just what they need.
Transfermarkt says El Mala is worth €18m.
CONOR GALLAGHER CONFIRMED AS "VITAL" STARTER FOR SPURS FOLLOWING BENTANCUR’S INJURY LAYOFF
Conor Gallagher proved the doubters wrong against Man City. Discover why his €40m move to Tottenham is finally paying off for Spurs.
Chelsea and Atletico Madrid both decided Conor Gallagher wasn’t worth the trouble. At Chelsea, he had his moments—Pochettino liked him, but the fans never really warmed up. When Chelsea shipped him off to Atletico, it made sense. Enzo Fernandez stepped up, took over Gallagher’s role, and fit in perfectly next to Caicedo, with Cole Palmer adding that extra spark up front.
Things didn’t get much better for Gallagher in Spain. He barely got a chance at Atleti, lost his spot in the starting eleven, and pretty much ended up on the transfer list before anyone had time to blink. Interest was lukewarm at best until the winter window rolled around. Aston Villa wanted him and went after him pretty aggressively, but then Tottenham swooped in late. Spurs needed someone to patch up the midfield after Bentancur’s injury, so they just paid up—40 million euros, no hesitation.
His start at Tottenham? Rough. Honestly, that was to be expected. He’d played well at Palace before, but after his struggles at Atleti, he needed time to adjust. Sitting on the bench in Spain didn’t do him any favours.
Then Gallagher showed up. People doubted whether he could really add creativity and move the ball forward for Spurs, so his early struggles got people worried. But then came the 2-2 draw against Manchester City. He suddenly looked like the player both Ange Postecoglou and Thomas Frank were so desperate to sign.
Against City, Gallagher flipped the script. He set up a crucial assist, drove play forward on the dribble, and kept drawing fouls—everything the Spurs needed. Defensively, he was all over the place in a good way: two tackles, three interceptions, a full 90 minutes, and a huge part of the Spurs clawing their way back into the game.
Tottenham fans loved it. They saw the effort, the attitude, and the hunger to win. Gallagher just wouldn’t quit, and in that second half, he, Xavi Simons, Pape Matar Sarr, Destiny Udogie, and Dominic Solanke ran the show. Four of those guys have been carrying Spurs lately, so Gallagher is fitting right in with them. That’s a pretty good sign he’s going to work out just fine in North London.
AC MILAN MEDICAL FAILURE: THE HIDDEN KNEE INJURY THAT CRUSHED MATETA’S £30M MOVE
Jean-Philippe Mateta's £30m move to AC Milan is OFF. Discover why a failed medical has put his France World Cup dreams in jeopardy.