Report: Liverpool have joined the race to sign £43m forward

Report: Liverpool have joined the race to sign £43m forward Liverpool Eye Said El Mala as £43.1m Yan Diomande Alternative Liverpool’s search for another attacking addition appears to be gathering pace, with Fussballdaten reporting that Cologne winger Said El Mala has emerged as a player of interest. The 19-year-old is understood to be valued at around €50million, approximately £43.1m, and is being monitored at a time when Liverpool are assessing alternatives to Yan Diomande. Diomande remains a high-end target, but RB Leipzig’s stance has complicated matters. The Bundesliga side are said to be demanding a huge €148m, roughly £128m, to even consider a sale this summer. For Liverpool, that makes the market more nuanced. Andoni Iraola has already seen the club move decisively for Victor Munoz, after Liverpool hijacked Newcastle United’s pursuit of the Spanish international winger. Now, the focus may be shifting towards whether another young, flexible forward can be added to reshape the attack for the years ahead. Said El Mala profile attracts Premier League interest El Mala’s appeal is easy to understand. He is quick, technically sharp and carries a goal threat, with 27 goals in 81 senior games. That is a strong output for a player still in his teenage years. He can operate on either flank and also as an attacking midfielder, which makes him a natural fit for a side looking to build a more fluid forward line. Liverpool are not alone in that thinking, with Tottenham and Newcastle also credited with interest. Photo: IMAGO That competition matters. Tottenham are actively seeking wide attacking quality, while Newcastle’s own search for elite young players has already crossed paths with Liverpool this summer. Diomande cost forces Liverpool to consider options The Diomande pursuit remains relevant because it tells us something about Liverpool’s thinking. The club want pace, youth, explosiveness and long-term upside. They are also planning for a future in which Mohamed Salah cannot be expected to carry the right-sided burden forever. El Mala fits the same strategic lane, even if he arrives with a different profile and a lower cost. At £43.1m, he would still represent a major investment, but in the current market, that valuation is far more manageable than Leipzig’s reported Diomande demand. The key question is whether Liverpool view El Mala as an alternative, a parallel target, or a player who could develop alongside another attacking signing. Premier League move would be a major test There is obvious risk. El Mala’s numbers are exciting, but the jump from Cologne to Liverpool, Tottenham or Newcastle would be substantial. The Premier League demands speed of thought, physical resilience and tactical discipline. Yet Liverpool have shown a willingness to trust younger players when the recruitment case is strong. Iraola’s system will require forwards who can press, carry the ball and make aggressive runs into space. El Mala’s qualities appear to match that direction. This is a report worth taking seriously, not because it guarantees a transfer, but because it fits Liverpool’s wider recruitment pattern. They are looking younger, faster and more adaptable. El Mala, on the evidence available, belongs in that conversation. Our View – Anfield Index Analysis aid El Mala is not the biggest name on the market, and he does not carry the instant headline value of Yan Diomande, but there is a lot to like here. Liverpool need to be clever this summer. If Leipzig are genuinely asking for €148m for Diomande, then the club cannot simply chase one player at any cost. That is not how sustainable squad building works, especially with Iraola just through the door and the attack clearly entering a new phase. El Mala’s record of 27 goals in 81 senior games is impressive for a teenager. More importantly, his ability to play wide or centrally gives Liverpool options. Supporters have seen how valuable that flexibility can be when injuries, form and tactical changes start to bite across a long season. There will be understandable caution. Bundesliga potential does not always translate instantly to Anfield pressure. Still, at around £43.1m, El Mala feels like the kind of calculated gamble Liverpool have often tried to make before the rest of Europe fully catches on. If the club believe his pace, decision-making and mentality are right, this could be a very intriguing route to strengthening the attack without being dragged into a Diomande auction.