Brighton & Hove Albion have been interested in signing German midfielder Said El Mala for a while now,with  discussions are ongoing between all parties. While personal terms for El Mala, including salary, contract length, and a package for his brother Malek, have been agreed in principle for weeks, no deal has been reached with 1. FC Köln.

Reports suggesting that negotiations have progressed further are being denied. According to SkySport, there are currently no advanced talks, as Köln are pushing for a guaranteed fee of €40–50 million, a figure Brighton are unwilling to meet at this stage.

El Mala has been a key player for Köln this season, featuring in 28 matches across competitions, scoring 10 goals and providing three assists. The transfer saga highlights the growing interest in the 23-year-old midfielder but underlines the financial gap between the two clubs.