Premier League club’s record deal called off after refusing key transfer detail

Brentford’s swoop for FC Koln winger Said El Mala has fallen through, talkSPORT understands.

German side Koln were understood to be hopeful of pushing through a deal with the Bees.

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However, terms were never agreed between El Mala and the Premier League side.

Another key reason behind the collapse is Brentford’s reluctance to sign El Mala’s 21-year-old brother Malek, which the family had requested as part of the deal.

According to German outlet BILD, the total package for El Mala would have cost the Bees around £43million.

This would have broken their transfer record, which was set in August when they signed Dango Ouattara from Bournemouth for £42.5m.

El Mala was set to receive a salary in the region of £3.5m at Brentford, which equates to around £67,000-a-week.

The 19-year-old first joined the academy at Linner SV, who his father Mohammed used to play for.

Later spells at KFC Uerdingen 05, Borussia Monchengladbach and TSV Meerbusch came before El Mala moved to FC Viktoria Koln in 2023.

Their city neighbours Koln signed him a year later but sent him back for the 2024/25 season, in which he scored 13 goals and assisted five.

El Mala had an excellent debut season in the Bundesliga as he, yet again, netted 13 and assisted five goals.

He also has seven caps for the Germany U21 national team, and was the joint-top scorer at the U19 Euros last summer on four goals.

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Brentford summer plans

The summer transfer window does not officially open until June 15, but Brentford have already completed a signing.

Jannik Schuster will join the club on July 1 from Red Bull Salzburg in a reported £17m deal.

Schuster, who plays in defence, is an Austria U21 international and will have a contract at the Bees until June 2031.

Head coach Keith Andrews said: “He’s a player with a lot of potential, and we see that as something we can develop.”

However, Brentford could face a battle to hold onto Igor Thiago, who scored 22 Premier League goals in his first season.

The 24-year-old striker is also in the Brazil squad for this summer’s World Cup.