The FA Cup quarter-finals take place during the Easter weekend, with League One outfit Port Vale – the lowest-ranked side remaining in the competition – visiting Chelsea.
The Blues have endured a tough season so far and, after an immediate improvement in form when Liam Rosenior replaced Enzo Maresca at the turn of the year, the west London outfit have lost their last four matches in all competitions.
Saturday’s cup tie will give the FIFA Club World Cup Champions a good opportunity to return to winning ways, but Rosenior is already under pressure and Chelsea’s next two Premier League fixtures see them face Manchester City and Manchester United.
In the meantime, though, it appears that one of Chelsea’s transfer targets could be available this summer.
According to Florian Plettenberg, Via CaughtOffside, German side FC Koln are keen to sell forward Said El Mala, who has attracted interest from both Chelsea and Manchester United.
El Mala has represented Germany at Under-21 level (Photo: DPA/Alamy)
The report claims that the Bundesliga outfit are keen to agree a quick sale in regard to El Mala, who has scored ten goals in 27 German top flight matches this term.
Koln are said to be keen to sell the player to the Premier League and, while an asking price has not been set, it is claimed that £35 million ‘will not be enough’ to lure the German attacker away from Cologne.
Brighton and Hove Albion are said to be seriously interested in the winger, although the Seagulls have currently been deterred by the player’s likely asking price.
Talks with other interested clubs in England are said to be ongoing, and the report claims that both Chelsea and Manchester United are interested in the German.
El Mala’s contract with Koln is set to run until the end of the 2029/30 campaign.