Liverpool are planning to shake up their forward options this summer.

The Reds have lost Mohamed Salah on a free transfer after an agreement was reached to rip up his £400k per week contract one year early.

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And Federico Chiesa is expected to join the Egyptian King on the exit ramp – with teams in Serie A thought to be keen on his signature.

Liverpool’s transfer window problems

Liverpool had plans to sign Yan Diomande from RB Leipzig – offering €100m for the Ivorian teenage sensation. But the 19-year-old looks set to stay in the Bundesliga – leaving the Reds looking around at other targets.

Bradley Barcola, Yankuba Minteh and Matias Pardo-Fernandez have all been brought under consideration – with Liverpool putting a lot of groundwork into getting their winger move right.

Another option discussed has been Said El Mala of Koln. The 19-year-old scored 13 goals and added five assists in the German top flight last season – putting him on the radar for several elite clubs.

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Borussia Dortmund – along with Premier League sides Brentford, Brighton, Newcastle and the Reds – are all thought to be keen on adding the Germany under-21 winger.

However a deal for El Mala is likely to happen in 2027 at the earliest according to a report in TEAMtalk – which Koln now planning to keep him on board for the 2026/27 season.

Koln won’t sell El Mala until 2027

El Mala is under contract until 2030 with Koln asking for around €50m (£43m) – but Liverpool will have to bide their time over a deal for the wide man.

“FC Koln are increasingly confident they will keep star winger Said El Mala at the club for at least another season,” the report reads.

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“Recent developments suggest he is set to remain at the RheinEnergie Stadion.

“The club’s valuation remains firm at approximately €50m, including add-ons, and they are under no immediate pressure to sell.

“With other outgoing transfers providing financial flexibility, Koln can afford to take a patient approach.”

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El Mala valued around £43m

Said El Mala is a 19-year-old Germany U21 international winger/attacking midfielder for 1. FC Köln, standing around 1.85m and predominantly left-sided but right-footed, with Lebanese heritage and a breakthrough 2025-26 season behind him.

El Mala profiles as a powerful transition winger: tall, explosive over the first few metres, thriving when driving in off the left to shoot with his right, combining one‑v‑one acceleration, close control and instinctive final-third decision-making.

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He attacks space aggressively in counter-attacks, can operate between the lines in a 3-4-3, and brings double‑digit goal contribution potential from wide areas.

Signed from Viktoria Köln in 2024 for a modest fee and initially loaned back, he has since posted 13 goals and 5 assists in the Bundesliga, prompting a contract extension through 2030 with no release clause.

Köln value him around the €50m mark, are under no pressure to sell and are preparing improved terms to make him one of their best-paid players.

Despite Köln’s public stance, there is intense external noise: Bayern, Dortmund and PSG have tracked him, while Chelsea, Newcastle and especially Brighton are exploring deals built around a purchase now and loan-back, with some reports suggesting a Brighton move worth up to £30m from 2026.