Manchester United have reportedly set their sights on one of the Bundesliga‘s rising stars. With the January transfer window looming, the Red Devils are already being associated with a host of potential new recruits. FC Koln wonderkid Said El Mala is said to have been identified as a possible target as the New Year approaches.

Tottenham are also believed to have entered the fray, with German outlet Bild reporting that both United and Spurs have approached the Bundesliga club about the possibility of signing the gifted 19-year-old. It’s suggested that Koln would price El Mala at around €60million (£52.7m) if they were to contemplate a sale during the summer transfer window.

United and Tottenham are reportedly prepared to pay up to €40m (£35m) for El Mala, with Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona and Bayern Munich also linked in recent weeks.

Whether any firm interest will materialise in January remains to be seen, with El Mala tipped as one of the most promising talents currently plying his trade in the Bundesliga.

The teenager has already caught the attention of Premier League clubs, with Brighton reportedly showing interest last summer and are rumoured to have had a bid turned down. It has been suggested that the offer was in the region of €10m (£8.8m).

Last week, Lionel Souque, a member of Koln’s supervisory board, revealed that Brighton owner Tony Bloom had reached out to him over the summer regarding a potential deal for El Mala.

Speaking on the OMR podcast, Souque shared: “Through a friend at the carnival, the owner of the club [Bloom] had my mobile number, called me and tried to see if he had a chance through me, after it didn’t work out through management.

“I told him: ‘I’m glad we’re talking, but I’m a fruit and vegetable vendor, you’re apparently a poker player – there’s no way we’re going to negotiate.’ He didn’t find that funny.”

Souque made it clear that any decision regarding El Mala’s future lies with Thomas Kessler, the club’s sporting director, and not him.

He added: “Thomas Kessler decides, not me. And I strongly suspect that the club will initially focus on such a great young player.”

El Mala, who can operate anywhere across the front line but has been primarily deployed on the left wing this season, is making waves in Germany.

The under-21 international has scored six goals and set up three more in just 14 appearances this term.