Tottenham have identified a versatile attacking option to bolster Roberto De Zerbi’s squad.
Jan Paul van Hecke has become the latest summer signing at Tottenham Hotspur. With his acquisition, the North Londoners have managed to add three defenders to Roberto De Zerbi’s squad thus far.
De Zerbi’s next agenda is to try his best to lure central midfielder Sandro Tonali from Newcastle United. Alongside Tonali, recent reports suggest that the Spurs boss wants to add a versatile forward who can operate across the front three. He wants to have a flexible attacking option in his ranks in case another injury crisis hits the squad.
Following those reports, Tottenham’s links with FC Koln talent Said El Mala started surfacing again. The German teenage prodigy enjoyed a fantastic campaign with FC Koln, bagging 13 goals and five assists in 34 Bundesliga outings. A left-winger by trade, he is quite comfortable at operating on the opposite flank and centrally as a No.9, and such flexibility in attack is exactly what De Zerbi is seeking in his roster for the next campaign.
Tottenham set to launch an offer for Said El Mala
Now, according to German newspaper Sport BILD (h/t Sport Witness), Tottenham ‘will soon make a move’ for Said El Mala, who is likened to Kingsley Coman. They are set to launch an offer for the winger, who rejected a move to Brentford earlier this year despite the Bees being willing to meet FC Koln’s €50m valuation. De Zerbi is ‘very pleased’ with the scouting reports he has received on the teenager, and the belief at N17 offices is that he could be a key component of the Italian’s squad rebuild.
El Mala, who is rated at around €40m, is more than open to joining the Premier League this summer. Tottenham could face competition from Newcastle United for the Germany Under21 international, as both teams are in desperate need of quality in wide areas of the pitch.
The FC Koln talent caught the eye with his explosive pace, dribbling, elusive movement, creativity and composed finishing last season, and it is only a matter of time before he gets a big move away from the Bundesliga. The Lilywhites planning to soon launch an offer suggest they are convinced of El Mala thriving in De Zerbi’s system. If he makes the move, the diminutive attacker would likely compete with Mathys Tel for a spot on the left wing.
It remains to be seen when and what offer Tottenham table for the highly rated El Mala.
