Borussia Dortmund have submitted an initial offer worth up to 42 million euros for 1. FC Köln forward Said El Mala, only for the Rhineland club to reject the proposal and express irritation at the approach. The bid comprises a base fee of 26 million euros, supplemented by 8 million in readily achievable bonuses and a further 8 million in harder-to-attain add-ons.
Cologne have made clear they demand a guaranteed 40 million euros as a minimum transfer fee, with a total package reaching 50 million. El Mala, who is open in principle to a move to Dortmund, recently turned down a lucrative switch to English Premier League side Brentford, who had offered Köln a package of up to 50 million euros.
Köln sporting director Thomas Kessler has voiced confidence that El Mala will remain with the club for the current season, signalling the gap between the two sides remains wide.