Tribal Football

How much Said El Mala could cost as Brentford lead race

Said El Mala celebrates for Cologne
Said El Mala celebrates for CologneREUTERS/Angelika Warmuth

Brentford are looking to build on a remarkable campaign under Keith Andrews.

Tipped by many to be battling relegation at the start, the Bees defied all odds to finish ninth in the Premier League, narrowly missing out on European football on the final day. 

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Andrews deserves immense credit for doing an even better job than Thomas Frank managed, and the Irishman is already drafting up his list of transfer targets.

Encouragingly, the Telegraph have revealed that Brentford are "leading the race" for Cologne winger Said El Mala, who has multiple Champions League clubs chasing his signature. 

Cologne finished 14th in the Bundesliga, and they could have ended up lower down if El Mala didn't enjoy an incredible breakout campaign, scoring 13 and assisting five in 34 appearances. 

As a result, the German side want upwards of £30 million for the 19-year-old, and Brentford appears the ideal destination. 

The Bees have had huge success in finding young talent and increasing their value, with Germany's U21 star potentially becoming their latest project.