According to a report from CaughtOffside, Arsenal and Liverpool are both keen on acquiring the services of Malick Fofana, who has made quite a name for himself with his impressive performances for Olympique Lyon. While both Premier League giants are pushing hard for his signature, they could face competition from rivals Newcastle and Aston Villa.
Fofana came up the ranks at KAA Gent. His impressive rise at the Belgian club resulted in a move to Lyon at the start of 2024 and he hasn’t looked back since. The 20-year-old winger has established himself as a key figure in the team and has put in some consistent performances for them.
In the ongoing season, he has featured in a total of 39 matches and he has contributed towards 17 goals (11 goals, 6 assists). His performances have even helped him break into the Belgian national team.
While he has had quite an impact at Lyon and he still has over three years left on his deal there, his future has become a big talking point. The 20-year-old seems ready to make the jump to a bigger club.
Meanwhile, Lyon’s financial situation isn’t that great and they are considering parting ways with the Belgian sensation. They are looking for €50 million to sanction the departure of the youngster amidst interest from some of the biggest clubs in England.
Arsenal and Liverpool are both keen on signing him this summer. The Gunners have a long-standing interest in him and have been monitoring his progress for a while now. The North London club want to add more quality on the left flank and Andrea Berta has been working to sign the best possible option.
Nico Williams is their priority target but signing him won’t be that straightforward. As a result, they could look at someone like Fofana. The 20-year-old could prove to be a great acquisition both in the short as well as long run.
Meanwhile, Liverpool are quite serious about securing the Belgian winger’s services. The Reds might have won the Premier League but Arne Slot is still looking to make significant changes to his squad. With Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota’s future uncertain, he wants more quality on the left flank and Fofana is quite high on their wishlist.
Both Premier League giants are aware of Lyon’s situation and they are looking to strike a deal for less than the French club’s asking price. While they are front-runners for now, Newcastle and Aston Villa could rival them in their pursuit.
The Magpies have taken giant strides under Eddie Howe and to continue along the same line they want to add more quality to their squad. Fofana could be a great addition to their project.
As far as Villa are concerned, Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio could return to their parent clubs ahead of next season. As a result, they could push for Fofana to ensure they have enough quality on the flanks.
