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Newcastle United are targeting Koln winger Said El Mala as a replacement for Anthony Gordon. The Magpies are looking to spend big after selling Gordon.
What happened?
Newcastle United had a disappointing campaign last season and are under pressure to perform this summer. Eddie Howe has worked wonders at St James' Park, but he knows that even he doesn't have enough credit in the bank to survive back-to-back bottom half finishes.
Why it matters for Newcastle United
The club must get this summer and next season spot on to ensure a bounce back from a disappointing campaign. Newcastle have been linked with a number of wingers this summer, and it is no secret they missed out on Víctor Muñóz to Liverpool.
What comes next?
Attention now turns to new targets, and according to the Daily Mail, Koln winger Said El Mala is one of the targets being considered. El Mala has been heavily linked with a move to the Premier League in the past. In fact, Brentford were said to have agreed a £43million deal for him previously, but the player's camp shut down the deal.
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| El Mala's age | 19 |
| El Mala's goals last season | 13 |
| El Mala's assists last season | 5 |
El Mala is a talented left-winger who very much fits the profile of replacing Gordon, being a quick and agile winger who loves going face-to-face with his marker. He also has an eye for goal and is coming off a season that saw him score 13, while he also assisted five. Matias Fernandez-Pardo and Kerim Alajbegovic are also been linked with a move to St James' Park, but Liverpool are said to have some interest in the former.
El Mala's stock continues to rise
El Mala is seen as one of the best up-and-coming young attacking talents in Europe, and his stock is even higher in Germany than elsewhere. Even Bayern Munich boss Vincent Kompany singled him out after a game during the season just gone. He said: 'If the counter ends with his goal, this boy has a lot to do with it, of course. He’s got that first burst of acceleration, and then a second one in the same move. That surprises many defenders. From that high-speed action, he can get into a shooting position, and he does that very well.'
