Chelsea are keen admirers of Malick Fofana and there has been initial contact with Lyon over a possible move for the 20-year-old winger, football.london understands.
The Blues have sounded out the French club over the Belgium international, who only moved to the club in January 2024 in a deal that could eventually be worth up to £18.7million. Eighteen months later and there are several Premier League clubs with an interest in Fofana, as Manchester United and Liverpool are reported to be in the run-in for the winger as well as Chelsea.
It is no secret Chelsea are looking to add a new left-sided winger to their ranks this summer. That was always going to be the case, even if Jadon Sancho stayed beyond his season-long loan deal. Now he has departed, there could be space for two new wide players at Stamford Bridge in the coming months.
Fofana is certainly a target, with sources in France describing the young Belgian as a "phenomenal prospect", although Lyon want to keep hold of one of their prized assets. The French club have already lost Rayan Cherki this summer to Manchester City and are understandably keen to want to keep Fofana at the club.
A tricky, direct winger that can likes to go both ways at his opposing full-back. At 5ft 7in, Fofana is not the biggest and he likes to beat his opponent with skill and trickery rather than physically. For such a young player, Fofana's mentality has also been praised publicly, though there was a warning handed out by former Lyon boss Pierre Sage over his consistency levels.
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"He's a player who is at a very high level in his mentality, but he will have to string together these sorts of matches, then he will have a very, very good future," Sage said on the Chelsea target in October 2024.
Chelsea's current crop of wingers have been criticised for their consistency levels over the course of the campaign, but when they are on their game, they can be a real problem for any defence. Add Fofana as an option, with the possibility of Jamie Gittens as well, and it will be interesting to see if the increased competition raises their game.
As for Gittens, the Blues are very much still in the mix for the Borussia Dortmund winger. Chelsea saw a £42million offer turned down for Gittens earlier in the month, with Dortmund holding out for at least £50million for his signature, football.london understands.
While Chelsea could well be after two wingers because of Sancho's departure, it is yet to be seen whether it will be Gittens or Fofana, or as a lot of fans would love, Gittens and Fofana. Either way, there will be at least one left winger added this summer.