Borussia Dortmund has dropped out of the transfer battle for Saïd El Mala. This was confirmed by Managing Director Lars Ricken on Friday, after 1. FC Köln rejected another offer from BVB. "Saïd El Mala is not a player for Borussia Dortmund and will not be this summer", Ricken told Funke Mediengruppe. Initially, Sky and Bild reported on the turn in the transfer poker. They had open talks with 1. FC Köln's management in the past few days, which rejected our last offer, Ricken explained: "Borussia Dortmund will not make any further offers and will not pursue the transfer of the player further." The negotiations between Dortmund and Köln have been ongoing for weeks. BVB has already failed with several offers, the Rhinelanders are reportedly holding out for a transfer fee of 50 million euros. In the current season, Borussia Dortmund is in second place in the Bundesliga, with 60 goals scored and 29 conceded (+31 goal difference). The BVB is 12 points behind the leaders Bayern Munich. Next week, Borussia Dortmund will play at home against VfB Stuttgart.