The 20-year-old winger signed a contract extension until 2031 in August, following negotiations over his future. His performances have continued to attract attention, but Cologne are not planning to sell him during the January transfer window.
“If a top club calls at some point, we can certainly discuss a transfer,” Kessler told Bild. “But until then, it is primarily up to Said himself how far his career goes. I have no doubt that he can develop into an international top player.”
Kessler made clear that the club’s immediate priority is keeping El Mala in the squad as he continues his development.
“In football, you should never rule anything out categorically,” he said. “But I can say very clearly that we are firmly planning for Said to play the entire season with us.”
“He did not extend his contract for no reason. That is why I currently have no reason to concern myself with a possible winter move. Our shared focus is on his continued development here and on the team being successful.”
El Mala has enjoyed a significant rise at Cologne and recently made his senior Germany debut. He then scored the winning goal in the 2-1 Rhine derby victory over Borussia Mönchengladbach on 11 October, further underlining his importance to the team.
The winger’s new contract provides Cologne with a long-term position from which to negotiate should serious interest emerge. However, Kessler’s comments suggest that a sale is not part of the club’s current plans.
According to *Bild*, El Mala continues to attract interest from the Premier League, although no concrete offer has been reported. A transfer next summer for a fee exceeding €60 million has been discussed as a possibility if he maintains his current trajectory, but that figure remains speculative.
For now, Cologne want El Mala to remain in place for the full campaign. Kessler has left the door open to a future deal with a leading club, while stressing that the player’s development and the team’s results take precedence over transfer speculation.