Spurs Ready to Broker Unusual Package Deal for Cologne Siblings

Tottenham are pushing ahead with plans to land German under-21 winger Said El Mala, though the deal comes with an unusual twist that has already deterred at least one rival club from the chase.

Having finished 17th in the Premier League for two consecutive seasons, Spurs have made significant moves to rebuild. Recent arrivals Marcos Senesi and Andy Robertson have shored up the backline, while an agreement is understood to be close with Jan Paul van Hecke. Now attention turns to attacking reinforcements.

The 19-year-old Cologne man has emerged as a genuine talent after an impressive campaign that yielded 13 Bundesliga goals and five assists. The winger has already caught the eye of the German senior setup, putting him firmly on the radar of several Premier League clubs. Newcastle and Nottingham Forest have both expressed interest, but Spurs are making their move with regular monitoring and recent contact with his representatives.

Here's where matters get complicated. El Mala's family—who handle his representation—have made clear they wish to keep both brothers together. That means any suitor keen on Said must also take Malek, a 21-year-old striker currently at Cologne who failed to make a single first-team appearance last season following his arrival from Viktoria Cologne.

The package deal requirement has proven problematic for other potential buyers. Brentford, previously interested in Said, have stepped away from the pursuit rather than commit to signing Malek as well. Most clubs view the older brother as lacking the development trajectory of his younger sibling, making him an unattractive prospect on his own merits.

Tottenham, however, appear willing to swallow that pill to secure their primary target. The club is exploring how best to structure a dual-player arrangement with Cologne, who are valuing the 19-year-old at €40million (£34.5m). There is genuine optimism among Spurs officials that a deal around that figure can be struck, despite the added complication of bringing Malek into the fold.