Arsenal are considering a deadline day move for Lyon winger Malick Fofana. The Premier League champions have held an interest in the 21-year-old Belgian since last summer, according to a report from Independent Football.
This potential move comes as Arsenal begin their title defence from ninth place in the table, having taken three points from their opening match. They have scored three goals and conceded none, leaving them three points behind leaders Manchester City. Their next challenge is a home fixture against Chelsea on September 6th.
Why Arsenal want Malick Fofana
Arsenal's attack has seen significant changes this window. The club sold Gabriel Martinelli to Al Hilal for a British record £60 million. Leandro Trossard moved to Besiktas earlier in the summer. To partly address this, they signed left-sided attacker Christos Tzolis. A move for Fofana would add another young, dynamic option to their forward line.
The club's interest is not new. Last summer, Chelsea, Liverpool, Fulham, Nottingham Forest, Bayern Munich, Leipzig and Napoli all contacted Lyon about Fofana's availability. Arsenal's pursuit now is reportedly driven by a need to refresh their options and the player's potential availability for around £50 million.
How the squad looks ahead of the move
Manager Mikel Arteta is operating with a reduced squad due to injuries. Key attackers Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli are currently sidelined, alongside defenders Jurriën Timber and William Saliba and midfielder Bruno Guimarães. This situation increases the urgency for reinforcements. Fans can track the latest availability on the club's injuries page.
Lyon's failure to qualify for the Champions League could make them more willing to sell. Fofana represents a long-term project for a club that has already shown a willingness to invest in youth.
What other targets did Arsenal miss?
Arsenal's search for attacking talent has seen them look elsewhere. They pursued Vinicius Jr before the Brazilian extended his contract with Real Madrid. The club also held an interest in Atletico Madrid's Julian Alvarez, but the Spanish side refused to sell the Argentine forward.
These missed opportunities have seemingly refocused attention on Fofana. The deadline day nature of any move suggests Arsenal are exploring all avenues to strengthen. The current squad list shows where further depth might be needed.
When is the transfer deadline?
The summer transfer window closes on Tuesday, September 1st. Any deal for Fofana would need to be completed before the deadline to allow for registration. This gives Arsenal a narrow window to negotiate with Lyon and agree personal terms with the player.
A successful move would cap a busy period of ins and outs for the club's attack. It would also provide a boost ahead of a crucial early-season clash with Chelsea. Supporters can view the full upcoming schedule on the fixtures page. Arsenal host Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium on September 6th.
