Daniel Farke has several key calls to make this summer, and one Leeds United player now looks increasingly likely to be on his way out before the start of the new campaign.
After securing an impressive 14th-place finish in their first season back in the Premier League, Leeds have shifted their focus to the summer transfer window and the task of taking the squad to the next level.
The club are focused on bringing in more quality, match-winning talent across several positions, and adding more creative flair and goals is one of the priorities.
Leeds want to show more ambition in the market, and they have their eyes on one of the most wanted young attackers, Sai El Mala, in the upcoming transfer window.
Said El Mala has rejected an offer from Brentford
Leeds have been tracking Said El Mala, who is on the radar of some of the big wigs of European football and the Premier League this summer.
The 19-year-old winger has turned heads in Europe and England, and efforts are being made to snare him away from FC Koln in the upcoming transfer window.
Leeds are monitoring his situation, but Brentford are the ones who have made concrete bids to try and take him to the GTech Stadium this summer.
However, according to German journalist Florian Plettenberg, Brentford have failed to convince the winger to join them this summer.
El Mala and his family have officially told Brentford that they won’t be joining the London club in the upcoming transfer window.
Brentford’s last offer to FC Koln was around the £43m mark, and the German club were prepared to accept the offer.
However, the teenage winger has decided against joining the London club this summer.
Leeds will have to break their transfer record to sign him
The £36m Leeds paid for Georginio Rutter in January 2023 still stands as the club’s record transfer fee.
However, that benchmark could soon be tested. Brentford already tabled an offer worth up to £43m for the winger, but the player decided against joining them.
The German club are expected to hold out for at least the £43m Brentford were ready to pay, fully aware that interest from multiple Premier League teams could drive up the bidding further for El Mala.
Farke has made no secret of his desire to see Leeds show greater ambition in the market, and few statements would be bigger than breaking the club’s transfer record to land a player who is attracting attention from several top-flight rivals.
He’s way beyond what we can afford, move on Leeds