Chelsea begin transfer talks – Offer ‘dream come true’ solution for player
Brighton to Chelsea is a well trodden transfer path these days, and it seems even transfer rumours are walking it, as Said El Mala now may be set for Stamford Bridge this summer.
Sport BILD report that Chelsea are now at the front of the queue for the 19-year-old, pushing Brighton aside in the process.
Brighton still interested
The newspaper explains that Said El Mala’s future is now being strictly handled by his mother, Sabrina El Mala. She’s taken up this role since March and will be dealing with a transfer this summer.
On Monday, following a defeat to Leverkusen, she called Brighton. This was to find out if, as reports stated, they had withdrawn their offer for the forward completely.
Brighton insisted that they had not, and they still had ‘strong interest’ in her son. Their offer, of €35m, was also still valid. The problem is Cologne had blocked negotiations after Brighton failed to formally submit their planned €35m offer.
The Seagulls, for their part, had acted this way as they don’t intend to reach Cologne’s €50m asking price. Their strategy is to wait for the price to drop and then make their move.
No club, has, at this point, made a firm bid. But Brighton assume that Cologne have been made aware that one will be coming. And it is that which is making them steadfast in their demands for €50m. The German club, though, haven’t spoken to Sabrina El Mala either.
Chelsea bid in the making
She, for her part in the poker game, is apparently gambling on a bid from Chelsea. According to SportBILD, the Blues have indicated in talks that they will outbid Brighton this summer.
In fact, their plan would be to outbid the Seagulls then loan Said El Mala back to Cologne for another year. That would be a ‘dream come true’ for the family.
Chelsea could live with the youngster spending a year away from them, and he’d be happy to spend another year in his homeland developing. It’s also the best of both worlds for Cologne.
The problem is that Chelsea may struggle to make that bid this summer. If they miss out on the Champions League, which looks possible, the financial hit will change their plans considerably. There will be no expensive signings that don’t immediately boost the first team.
That would be bad news for the El Mala family, as Brighton are not interested in a deal that would see him loaned back next season.
Thus, they find themselves in limbo. Sabrina El Mala, the agent, is seemingly desperate to keep everyone interested while she waits and hopes that Chelsea offer the deal everyone actually wants.
