Said El Mala scored to help FC Koln to a 3-2 opening day Bundesliga win over TSG Hoffenheim, while the club continues to wait for a decision on the loan of Mikey Moore. Germany coach Jürgen Klopp is reportedly planning to call up the 20-year-old forward for the upcoming international matches.
How did Said El Mala start the season?
Said El Mala netted the equalizer to make it 1-1 in the 51st minute of Saturday's 3-2 home victory. After a turbulent transfer summer which saw him linked with Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig according to sport.de, this was an important on-pitch response. The attacker admitted to Sky after the game that the past few weeks had been "very wild," wilder than he had thought.
His contract with FC Koln was extended until 2029 during this period. El Mala had to leave the match in the 65th minute due to cramp, but Sueddeutsche Sport reported no immediate health concerns. The Effzeh's next match is away at VfB Stuttgart on 4 September, as shown on the current fixtures list.
Is a Germany call-up imminent?
Jürgen Klopp has reportedly already decided to call up Said El Mala for Germany's international matches at the end of September. Transfer expert Florian Plettenberg of TV channel Sky reported this, as covered by t-online – Köln. The new national team coach allegedly plans to integrate the Cologne striker from the start and sees great potential in him.
El Mala was previously nominated only once by Klopp's predecessor Julian Nagelsmann but did not feature. A strong performance on the opening matchday now seems to have reinforced this impression. The upcoming Nations League games would thus be the youngster's first real chance in a Germany shirt.
What is the status of the Mikey Moore loan deal?
The planned loan of Mikey Moore from Tottenham Hotspur to FC Koln remains up in the air. According to information from n-tv.de and Sky, there is an agreement with the player and in principle between the clubs for a one-year loan. The final green light, however, depends on Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi.
The Italian spoke positively about the 19-year-old attacker to DerWesten and would prefer to keep him in the squad. Moore recently started in the Premier League and shone in the EFL Cup. Tottenham's sporting officials still consider a loan sensible due to increased competition for his position following new signings. Cologne remains in a holding pattern until deadline day.
What does this mean for FC Koln's squad planning?
Beyond the uncertain situation regarding Mikey Moore, FC Koln continues to search for reinforcements at left-back. This was confirmed by reports from n-tv.de. The club absolutely wants to sign a left-back before the end of the transfer window to complete the squad for the challenges ahead.
The current squad overview clearly shows the need in this position. With the win against Hoffenheim and potential new arrivals, FC Koln aims to brace for upcoming tasks, which include the away game in Stuttgart. Further planning now depends significantly on the final days of the transfer window.
