As the paper reports, Effzeh have also rejected Dortmund's latest offer for the outstanding German talent, worth more than €45 million including bonuses. It is said to have been the Black and Yellows' fourth bid for El Mala.
The Cologne club are still refusing to budge from their demands for a total package worth more than €50 million. That is the figure Brentford FC were said to have offered weeks ago, and it is ultimately said to have at least led to an agreement with the club. The move then collapsed because of a veto from the El Mala family, whose interests are represented by the player's mother.
According to Bild, Cologne sporting director Thomas Kessler handled the negotiations with the Black and Yellows but has now stopped them in consultation with Effzeh's club bodies. Only an offer "well over €50 million" would bring the Cologne side back to the negotiating table. Cologne have therefore apparently raised their demands once again.
BVB apparently have not yet given up in the poker over El Mala
Over the past few days, BVB had been optimistic that the new offer, which was above the pain threshold they had set themselves, would get the deal over the line in the coming days. BVB are still said to be unwilling to give up their pursuit of El Mala and are already preparing a fifth offer. Whether that will finally open the door in this poker remains questionable.
"For weeks we have had several things on the table. But nothing that would have made me think about letting the player go," Kessler recently emphasised regarding the El Mala case.
Repeated media reports in recent weeks have said the winger definitely wants to join BVB this summer and play in the Champions League there. However, the 19-year-old breakout star of last Bundesliga season (13 goals, 3 assists in 34 games) is also said not to make a fuss if a move to the Ruhr area does not happen by the end of the transfer window.
BVB with a good hand for PSG alternative to El Mala?
Should the negotiations finally grind to a halt, BVB could go all in for PSG jewel Ibrahim Mbaye as an alternative to El Mala. According to L'Equipe, the Black and Yellows are said to have "a good hand" in the transfer duel with Liverpool for the 18-year-old Senegal international. The problem is that Mbaye could become even more expensive than El Mala. PSG are allegedly demanding €45 million plus €15 million in bonuses.
On Jadon Sancho, according to information from the Bild newspaper, there are serious doubts about his fitness condition. It is also surprising that apparently no other club intend to sign the winger, who is available on a free transfer.
Getty Images