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Roma eyes Cologne's Said El Mala as left-wing solution
·23 July 2026·28d ago

Roma eyes Cologne's Said El Mala as left-wing solution

Source: Forza Roma

Roma are advancing interest in Said El Mala, a 19-year-old German winger at Cologne, as they search for a left-sided attacker. The club had already tracked the player in January and are now examining him more seriously as alternatives prove difficult to pursue. El Mala enjoyed a breakthrough Bundesliga season: 13 goals and 5 assists in his first campaign, totalling 63 shots with 31 on target. He also impressed for Germany at the Under-19 Euros, scoring four goals before the competition ended in the semi-final, and has since been promoted to the senior squad.

Cologne value El Mala at €50 million—a significant outlay but comparable to what Roma would have spent on Summerville. Borussia Dortmund are also interested but remain far from Cologne's asking price of €26 million plus €15 million in add-ons. The winger's wage demands are manageable; he currently earns €400,000 per season and would at least sextuple that at Roma. Roma face a decision clouded by risk: El Mala only recently stepped up from German third-tier football and may not be ready for the Champions League jump. However, moving now could prove better than being left without adequate alternatives. His technical and athletic credentials are sound—goal-scoring sense, physical strength, dribbling, and team play are all evident—though he is not as quick as Summerville in short bursts.

Roma have also noted Jean-Mattéo Bahoya of Eintracht Frankfurt, a French Under-21 international and reportedly the fastest sprinter in the Bundesliga, valued at approximately €45 million.

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Testo Originale / Source Text

Troppa concorrenza per Nusa, troppo alta la valutazione per Schjelderup e troppo trequartista Godts. Le strade della Roma per riempire quell’atavico vuoto a sinistra sono sempre affollate di problemi e semafori rossi. Ma c’è una pista che si sta scaldando in queste ore in cui i nomi si susseguono e…

Read the full article in Italian at Forza Roma.

Read original on Forza Roma

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