Liverpool Boosted in Ibrahim Mbaye Pursuit After Dortmund's El Mala Bid

Liverpool’s pursuit of Ibrahim Mbaye has just been handed a significant boost – thanks to a record-breaking bid from Borussia Dortmund for someone else entirely.

Dortmund go all-in on El Mala

The German club have launched a huge move for Said El Mala, the teenage sensation who lit up the Bundesliga for Koln last season. Sky Germany report, via Florian Plettenberg, that Dortmund have tabled an offer of €55 million to sign the attacking talent, with the player already agreeing personal terms.

That figure matters. It would be the largest transfer fee Dortmund have ever paid, making El Mala their record signing if Koln accept.

El Mala was widely viewed as one of the standout young players in Germany last term, arguably second only to Yan Diomande in terms of teenage impact. His performances for Koln were outstanding, his reputation growing with every week despite Diomande dominating many of the headlines.

Dortmund see him as a priority target. Crucially, they also see him as the alternative to another teenager on their radar: Ibrahim Mbaye.

Door opens for Liverpool and Mbaye

Liverpool have been pushing hard to sign Mbaye from Paris Saint-Germain. The club view the Senegal youngster as an elite prospect, the kind of wide forward whose ceiling sits at the very top of the game.

There’s also the obvious synergy with Rio Ngumoha. Together, they offer a glimpse of a future Liverpool frontline, and Mbaye in particular is seen as one of the few right-sided talents with a realistic chance of growing into a long-term successor to Mohamed Salah.

Not immediately. But over time? The belief around Mbaye is that he has the tools to get there.

Liverpool and Dortmund had both been credited with strong interest, with the German side attracted by the idea of developing him as their next big project. They were considered serious rivals for his signature.

That equation changes if Dortmund land El Mala.

A €55m outlay on one teenage attacker makes a second major move for another highly rated forward extremely unlikely. Dortmund are not expected to follow up a record bid for El Mala with a similar offer for Mbaye.

If Koln accept the proposal, it effectively clears Liverpool’s path. The Reds would stand alone at the front of the queue for Mbaye, without the shadow of Dortmund’s project-driven pull hanging over the deal.

For Liverpool, that’s a major piece of good news. If Dortmund get their man in El Mala, the next elite teenager on the move may well be Ibrahim Mbaye – and all roads then point towards Anfield.