![\"Cologne](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/0_Cologne-winger-Said-El-Mala.jpg\")
<\/p>\nNottingham Forest are facing an important summer transfer window ahead of the 2026\/27 Premier League season<\/p>\n
Cologne winger Said El Mala(Image: Getty)<\/p>\n
Teenage talent Said El Mala has emerged as a potential transfer target for Nottingham Forest.<\/a><\/p>\n The Cologne winger is in demand ahead of the summer transfer window<\/a> opening and is said to have significant Premier League<\/a> interest. Brentford were eyeing him up but a deal fell through earlier this week, paving the way for rivals to try their luck.<\/p>\n The Reds are among the clubs keen on the 19-year-old, according to TEAMtalk.<\/a> However, they are likely to face a fight to secure the youngster\u2019s signature.<\/p>\n JOIN US ON FACEBOOK! Get all the Nottingham Forest latest via our Facebook page<\/a><\/p>\n Forest and Newcastle United have been \u201cin active contact with representatives\u201d as they monitor El Mala\u2019s situation. Both sides are said to be \u201cexploring creative solutions\u201d to a possible sticking point in any deal.<\/p>\n The player\u2019s parents are reportedly keen for any suitors to give consideration to also signing El Mala\u2019s 21-year-old brother Malek, who is also at Cologne but is yet to make a senior appearance. It is claimed the Bees were reluctant to sign both players, with German newspaper Bild (via talkSPORT)<\/a> suggesting the total package would have cost in the region of \u00a343 million.<\/p>\n Other admirers are apparently not deterred. El Mala is said to have \u201cmajor interest\u201d from other Bundesliga clubs as well as from Serie A, while he also has a new contract offer on the table from Cologne.<\/p>\n The season just gone proved to be a breakthrough one for the German, who has represented his country at various age group levels including the Under-21s. He scored 13 goals in 34 Bundesliga appearances, making the starting XI on 20 occasions.<\/p>\n Cologne\u2019s managing director for sport, Thomas Kessler, confirmed an offer for the wide man – believed to be that from Brentford – had been rejected. In an interview with Bild (relayed by One Football),<\/a> he said: \u201cIt is true that we received an offer for Said.<\/p>\n Get the latest World Cup news straight to your inbox by signing up to our Make Football Great Again newsletter now!<\/a><\/p>\n “The financial dimension was very close to the conditions under which we would generally have considered a transfer. After careful consideration, however, Said decided against a move to this club. That ended the matter for us.\u201d<\/p>\n Forest have made signing young players with the potential to improve and increase in value a key part of their transfer strategy in recent windows. Striking the right balance between youth and experience in head coach Vitor Pereira\u2019s<\/a> squad will be important for the coming campaign.<\/p>\n Strengthening out wide was a top priority for the Reds last summer. They lost Anthony Elanga to Newcastle but brought in Omari Hutchinson, Dan Ndoye<\/a> and Dilane Bakwa. However, the trio found the going tough during their first year on the banks of the Trent.<\/p>\n Pereira has said the Forest dressing room requires only minimal tweaking ahead of the 2026\/27 season. Nevertheless, it is an important transfer window for the club as they aim to challenge for European football next term.<\/p>\n