Arsenal have identified Lyon’s Malick Fofana as a new target to replace outgoing Gabriel Martinelli.
The Premier League winners have already agreed on a deal with Al-Hilal for the Brazilian and have identified Fofana as the target to replace him.
That’s according to L’Equipe, and their title says Arsenal move to pole position to sign the Lyon player.
Arsenal’s efforts to sign Fofana
The Gunners are already in direct negotiations with the 21-year-old’s representatives over a deadline day move. In fact, the two parties have been in ‘very concrete discussions for several hours’.
Sunderland, Hull City and Crystal Palace are also in the mix. Arsenal are ahead of these clubs in the transfer race. Their aim is to sign the Belgium international to fill in the void left by Gabriel Martinelli’s impending club-record sale of €70m.
Mikel Arteta has already given his approval, after holding direct talks with Malick Fofana, who is ‘obviously keen’ on a late move to the Emirates. Roc Nation Sports manage both Martinelli and the new Arsenal target.
The newspaper says the agency has ‘organised a game of musical chairs in the market, bringing Martinelli out to Al-Hilal, after having extended Vinícius, one of the Gunners’ targets, a little earlier this summer at Real Madrid.’
Agent ties and Lyon’s situation favour Arsenal
The north London club’s good ties with Roc Nation Sports can certainly benefit them to sign Malick Fofana. The representatives have already talked about taking him to a big club.
Last November, Fofana’s agent Frederico Pena said: “If he succeeds, he can move from Lyon to a top 10 club. At Roc Nation, we strongly believe in him. Liverpool, Bayern, Man City, those are the clubs where he belongs.”
Arsenal fit into the ‘top club’ category. The Ligue 1 side’s economic difficulties can also end up favouring Mikel Arteta’s side.
Lyon invested around €17m plus €2m bonuses to sign the attacker from Gent in 2024 and are now aiming to collect €40m.
The player missed most of last season because of an ankle injury. This, coupled with their financial situation, means Lyon won’t be in a strong position at the negotiating table.
Arsenal have already made a move and need to make quick advances for a rapid deal on deadline day.
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