Another day, another Belgian wonderkid linked with Liverpool. This time it’s Malick Fofana.
Malick Fofana — the 20-year-old Lyon winger with dancing feet, jet-fueled pace, and apparently a €50 million price tag stapled to his shirt by Lyon’s accountant-turned-club-owner John Textor.
Fofana isn’t your typical “maybe-he’ll-be-good” prospect. He scored 11 goals and bagged six assists last season in 41 appearances — not bad for a kid who only joined Lyon in January 2024. Oh, and six of those goals came in Europe, UEFA Europa League.
Now represented by Roc Nation — the agency that handles names like Vinicius Jr. and Martinelli — Fofana isn’t just playing the game; he’s entering the industry.
Liverpool have reportedly begun talks with his agents, clearly spotting an opening as Luis Diaz’s name continues to swirl around Saudi and Catalan gossip circles.
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Is Fofana a smart move or a spare part for Liverpool?
Dribbling? Fofana doesn’t just pass the eye test — he annihilates it. According to FBref, he’s in the top 2% of Europe’s wingers for progressive carries per game (6.72).
That’s not running down blind alleys either; it’s purposeful, line-breaking, defence-splitting movement. Exactly the kind of chaos Arne Slot’s system thrives on.
But do Liverpool really need another left winger?
Cody Gakpo has found his groove. Diaz, for now, is still hanging around. Then again, Liverpool aren’t shopping for this season — they’re shopping for the next five years. Fofana is a developmental player, a future starter disguised as a backup.
Let’s not forget Lyon’s financial crisis either. Textor wants to cash in, Premier League clubs are circling, and €50m might just drop to €40m with a little persuasion (and maybe a bonus clause or three).
So, while this may not be the most urgent signing on paper, Liverpool fans know the signs. Young, productive, high ceiling, good agency — the FSG starter pack. If Diaz goes, Fofana’s arrival could be not just logical, but inevitable.
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