Everton were exploring a deal to sign Lyon winger Malick Fofana in the summer transfer window.
David Moyes was looking for a right-winger for much of the summer transfer window and failed to land a number of targets.
Moyes’ top target was actually Francisco Conceicao, but the Portuguese star decided to sign for Juventus on a permanent deal.
Everton also made bids for Malick Fofana, however, the jet-heeled wide player decided to remain put at Lyon.
Now, he has lifted the lid on why that decision was made.
Olympique Lyonnais winger Malick Fofana.
Photo by Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images
Malick Fofana explains why he rejected Everton
Fofana is on international duty with Belgium and has been speaking with the local press about the interest in his signature this summer.
The 20-year-old actually said that Liverpool and Chelsea were looking at signing him, and he revealed that regular game time was the reason why he decided to snub a transfer away, with Everton a potential destination.
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“Me the rising star for the Red Devils? Oh well, I’m a normal guy and I stay calm,” he told Het Belang van Limburg.
“I don’t focus on the media either, I just do what I love: dribbling and scoring. There was interest from those two clubs (Liverpool and Chelsea), but ultimately it wasn’t concrete enough.
“I’ve thought about a transfer, but now I think it’s more important that I play a lot, and that has to happen at Lyon. Because I still have some progress to make.”
Malick Fofana would’ve got plenty of game time at Everton
Fofana’s desire to play football on a regular basis would’ve certainly been achieved at Everton, so it’s a little odd to hear him suggest he wouldn’t have got that on Merseyside.
Perhaps he was referring to his other two suitors Liverpool and Chelsea, which would certainly make more sense.
It was reported at the time that Fofana was holding out for a Champions League move around the time Everton were pursuing his signature.
So that theory makes more sense, but either way, Moyes and his chiefs will be delighted with the addition of Tyler Dibling.