NafisaLeeds United head coach Daniel Farke is expected to be active in the upcoming summer transfer window as he looks to inject more attacking quality into his squad.
After successfully securing Premier League survival this season, the next logical step for the West Yorkshire side is to build momentum and eventually push towards European qualification in the coming years.
To achieve that ambition, the Whites must significantly improve their output in the final third, particularly after Dominic Calvert-Lewin stood out as the only player to reach double figures for goals or assists in the league this campaign.
The England international, who surprisingly missed out on a place in the World Cup squad this summer, netted 14 Premier League goals after arriving from Everton on a free transfer last year.
Noah Okafor also showed promising moments on the left side, contributing eight goals and one assist, but the Swiss attacker lacked consistency in front of goal across the season as a whole.
Leeds need to break club-record fee for Bundesliga talent:
Leeds now find themselves searching for their next Raphinha-type figure — a player who previously delivered 17 goals and created 22 ‘big chances’ during his two-year spell at Elland Road in the Premier League.
Since his £55m departure to Barcelona in 2022, the Whites have struggled to replace his level of influence, but they are now in contention for a young forward who could become their most exciting attacking asset since then.
Leeds United were recently credited with interest in highly versatile Koln attacker Said El Mala, who is capable of operating both on the left wing and through the centre as a striker ahead of the summer window.
Now, Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg reports that the player and his representatives have informed Brentford that a move to the Premier League side is not part of their plans.
Koln had reportedly been willing to accept a £44m bid from the Bees for the German talent, but the move has stalled after the English club failed to reach agreement on personal terms with the 19-year-old.
This development has opened the door for Leeds to potentially step in with a move of their own, should they be prepared to meet a club-record £44m valuation, surpassing their current record signing of Georginio Rutter, who arrived from Hoffenheim for £35.5m in 2023.
Why Leeds must smash their transfer record to sign Said El Mala:
Spending £44m on a 19-year-old still developing his game and yet to be tested in the Premier League would represent a major gamble for Leeds, but it would not be their first calculated risk at this level.
The Whites are not operating as a top-six side capable of consistently signing established elite stars for nine-figure fees, meaning strategic risk-taking in the market is often necessary to elevate the squad.
El Mala’s performances in the Bundesliga this season suggest he could be a risk worth taking, with the potential to become Leeds’ most influential attacker since Raphinha.
While Calvert-Lewin currently leads the way in attacking output with 15 goal contributions this season, the young German prospect actually surpassed that return in Germany.
The right-sided forward registered 17 goal contributions in 34 Bundesliga appearances, despite starting only 20 matches — underlining his impact even without consistent game time.
Those numbers highlight his ability to change matches in the final third, suggesting he could quickly become Farke’s most productive attacker if he adapts successfully to English football.
Much like Raphinha, El Mala thrives as a wide attacker capable of scoring and creating, while also possessing the dribbling ability to destabilise defences in tight games.
At just 19, his development ceiling remains extremely high, and further refinement could make him an even more dangerous player in the future — a worrying prospect for opposition defenders given his current output.
As a result, Leeds would be wise to seriously consider making their move, as El Mala could emerge as their standout attacking talent since the departure of Raphinha.
Nafisa
