Liverpool have been linked with a move for Lyon winger Malick Fofana after the French club were provisionally demoted to Ligue 2 due to financial issues
Malick Fofana
Malick Fofana has been linked with Liverpool(Image: Alex Nicodim/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Lyon winger Malick Fofana has been linked with a move to Liverpool and has demonstrated qualities that could appeal to manager Arne Slot. The French club may be forced to sell their prize assests in cut-price deals after being provisionally relegated to Ligue 2 due to financial issues earlier this week.
Financial watchdog the Direction Nationale du Controle de Gestion (DNCG) handed out the punishment. The decision was announced despite Lyon selling their women’s team, and shareholder John Textor also selling his stake in Crystal Palace. Although Lyon can appeal the ruling, if the relegation remains in place, it could have a knock-on effect in terms of Liverpool’s reported interest in young winger Fofana.
The Belgian international, 20, was signed from Gent for €19.5million (£16.6m) in January 2024. In his first full season at Lyon, Fofana scored 11 goals and registered six assists in 41 games, prompting reported interest from Liverpool and Chelsea.
Sky Sports France has claimed that Liverpool view Fofana as a possible replacement for Federico Chiesa, who was restricted to just 14 appearances for the Reds this season. The Reds are yet to make an offer for Fofana, whose selflessness and willingness to help his team-mates could make him a positive addition to Slot’s squad.
“I think about the team and I always try to make the best choice for the team,” Fofana said during a press conference last October. “Sometimes I have to think more about myself on the pitch. I have to keep performing. I always want to play as much as possible, whether I'm a starter or not, I try to give my all.”
Malick Fofana
Malick Fofana enjoyed his first full season at Lyon(Image: OLIVIER CHASSIGNOLE/AFP via Getty Images)
The winger’s outlook could appeal to Slot, given the importance he has placed on teamwork throughout Liverpool’s title-winning campaign. Moreover, the Reds boss praised his side’s resilient nature in the rare moments of adversity during their run to winning the Premier League.
“The mentality is also part of it - and being consistent is also part of it mentally,” Slot explained in April. “If you have a good result or a bad result, how do you react to that. Are you showing up the next time doing the same things again?”
He added: “These are the ingredients we need to win a game of football in the Premier League - and the players are aware of that. I think it’s an accomplishment if I can only recall one game when I wasn’t happy with those three things - and that is a big compliment for the team.”
Arne Slot
Arne Slot has spoken about what he expects from new Liverpool players
(Image: Sebastian Frej/Getty Images)
Liverpool have acted decisively in the summer transfer window so far, sealing impressive moves Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez. However, Slot laid down the gauntlet of the high standards placed on any incoming players earlier this year.
“If you want to play at this club, you need to be at his [Mohamed Salah's] level otherwise you are probably almost useless to play at this club because we only need players that are at the top of their game,” Slot stated. “Because this is one of the best, or the best, club in the world to play for.”
Outlining his criteria for new signings, Slot previously told Sky Sports: "It's all about quality of course. But what I think is very important for a player is that he can change direction. Fast, work-rate, and then ability, but yeah, if you don't have quality on the ball then you can forget playing here at Liverpool.”
Fofana could be available for a bargain price should Lyon start next season in the second tier. Whether he would fit the bill for Liverpool remains to be seen, but the forward appears to be self-aware about how he can take his game to the next level.
“I'm more decisive and I've got more goals than last season,” Fofana said when asked about his development this season. “When I come on, I have to be in the game straight away to make a difference. I know I can do more.”
On his best position, he added: “I prefer to play on the left. I started on that side, even though at Gent I played more on the right. I'm continuing to work to be ready.”