Arsenal Want To Hijack The Move For Lyon Winger: Will He Be A Good Signing? | OneFootball

Every summer in European football there is a fever of rumours, calls and negotiations that ignite the hopes of thousands of fans. For Arsenal, each transfer window brings with it the pressure to reinforce a squad that, under Mikel Arteta, aims to remain competitive in the Premier League and make the definitive leap into the Champions League. In the midst of names and possible departures, the figure of Malick Fofana, a young Belgian winger who has aroused the curiosity of the big clubs, now emerges. His season with Lyon has put him in the sights of several clubs looking for a fresh and exciting talent.

Arsenal Want To Hijack The Move For Malick Fofana

According to information published by Miguel Delaney, Arsenal are one of the teams that have already made enquiries for Fofana this summer. Alongside the Gunners, Bayern Munich, Leipzig and Napoli have also reportedly sounded out the player, while Chelsea, Liverpool, Fulham and Nottingham Forest are also keeping a close eye on him in England.

Lyon, in financial trouble and with an administrative relegation pending appeal, need to sell to balance the books. Fofana, a 20-year-old, with 15 goals and seven assists last season, could leave for around €60 million. Forest have agreed a deal with Lyon, but the Belgian is awaiting an offer from a Champions League club before giving the green light. The race to sign him promises intense chapters.

Opinion:

But is Arsenal really worth going all in for Malick Fofana and paying that kind of money? Personally, we think the context forces us to think. Fofana has talent, cheek and spark on the wing, but we are talking about a boy who is just beginning to taste the pressure of big games. His debut for Belgium against Italy shows his potential, although he still has a long way to go. Arteta values line-breaking wingers, capable of breaking forward and offering solutions against tight defences.

In that respect, Fofana would fit in without any problems, adding a fresh alternative to rotate Martinelli or even complement Saka on the other flank. However, let’s not forget that Arsenal still need to cover areas such as the defensive pivot and reinforce the defence, where the shortcomings were evident at the end of last season.

Investing 60 million means giving up other priority signings. As of today, Fofana does not guarantee immediate impact as players with experience in top leagues could. The risk is there: a bad start could increase the pressure on a player who still has to adapt to a much more physical and demanding football. In his favour is his audacity and ability to shine in one-on-ones, a quality that is expensive and in short supply.

Arteta would know how to make the most of that profile, although it would depend a lot on giving him space and time. If Arsenal can negotiate a more reasonable price and not compromise the rest of the budget, it could be worth the gamble. Otherwise, focus on proven signings and leave Fofana for the near future. His talent is there, but making him a key player now would be rash for a team that wants silverware without waiting any longer.