Newcastle United are eyeing El Mala as they look to address the gap left in Eddie Howe's squad by Gordon's departure.
The 19-year-old is already making a name for himself in the Bundesliga, scoring 13 goals and providing five assists in 36 appearances across all competitions last season.
El Mala, a Germany Under-21 international, burst onto the scene last year and came close to a £50m move to Brentford before those talks broke down.
He remains in high demand, with Newcastle and Tottenham both credited with interest in the winger, who is also capable of playing as a central striker.
A fee in that range would represent a significant outlay for a player so young, but Newcastle have already shown a willingness to invest heavily in youth this summer. El Mala would also have countrymen Nick Woltemade and Malick Thiaw waiting for him on Tyneside, easing any potential transition to English football and life in the north east.
El Mala's versatility across multiple attacking positions has been one of the key factors driving interest from England, with both Newcastle and Tottenham viewing him as a player capable of contributing immediately rather than requiring an extended period of adjustment to the Premier League.
The collapse of his proposed move to Brentford has not diminished his standing in the market, with the winger's continued progress at Cologne last season only adding to the sense that a move to one of England's bigger clubs is now a matter of when rather than if, with Newcastle in a strong position to capitalise given their existing relationships with several of his German compatriots already at the club.