Newcastle United have opened talks with FC Koln over a deal to sign highly-rated winger Said El Mala to replace Anthony Gordon, according to TEAMtalk. The Magpies are anticipating a busy summer transfer window after selling Anthony Gordon to Barcelona for £70m, with their 12th-placed finish in the Premier League meaning they will have no European football for next season. Eddie Howe is desperate to bring in attacking reinforcements as a result, while he plans a major squad overhaul, and a talented Bundesliga forward has now emerged as a real target. El Mala, who has been described as a 'one in a million talent', has enjoyed a brilliant season with Koln in the Bundesliga, registering 13 goals and four assists in just 20 starts for the club. Those performances have attracted strong interest from a number of clubs across Europe, including Premier League rivals Brentford. The Bees actually tabled a €45+5m bid (£43m) for the 19-year-old, but have since been informed he doesn't want to join them. However, that bid was accepted by Koln, and it has now opened the door for other clubs to try and agree terms with the winger, including Newcastle. Newcastle have now opened talks with the Bundesliga club to agree terms over a deal, while they also want permission to speak to the German winger. However, the big sticking point so far has been that his representatives are his parents, and they are pushing for any club that signs Said to also sign his older brother Malik, who also plays for the Bundesliga side. Newcastle know that selling clubs will be aware they have money to spend after selling Gordon, and they know he needs to be replaced. That is likely to see asking prices raised as a result whenever they knock on the door, so they have to be smart. El Mala is an unbelievable talent, and Newcastle now know the formula that Koln would be willing to accept to let him leave. That gives them some leverage in talks, and now a deal relies on them agreeing terms with the player and his representatives. He is clearly ready to make the step up to the next level, and will have seen how players like Gordon and Alexander Isak developed at St James' Park, which could well be appealing to him.