Arsenal Set for £50m Deadline Day Bid for Lyon's Malick Fofana as Arteta Eyes Attack Boost

Arsenal are considering a £50 million move to sign Belgium international winger Malick Fofana from Lyon before the transfer window closes. Manager Mikel Arteta wants to add one more attacking player to his squad.

Late Transfer Push for Fofana

According to reports from Metro, Arsenal are preparing a last-minute bid for Fofana. The club has received promising signals about the winger ahead of Tuesday’s deadline. Arteta is keen to finalize his squad after bringing in Bruno Guimaraes, Ezri Konsa, and Christos Tzolis earlier this summer.

Lyon’s Need to Sell After Champions League Exit

Lyon’s failure to qualify for the Champions League has forced them to consider selling players to raise funds. They are reportedly looking to secure around €50 million before the window shuts, making Fofana available for a big offer.

European football journalist Andy Brassell said on talkSPORT, “Since Lyon were eliminated from the Champions League play-offs, they have had many players up for sale. They not only want to sell but need to make around €50 million before the transfer window closes.”

Replacing Departing Forwards

Arteta aims to fill the gap left by the departures of Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Jesus. Although new signing Tzolis has made an impact on the left wing, depth is still needed. Fofana has been highly rated across Europe and attracted interest from several Premier League clubs including Chelsea, Liverpool, Fulham, and Nottingham Forest. Now, Arsenal appear to be leading the race with intermediaries pushing the winger towards the Gunners.

Fofana Interested in Premier League Move

Sources in France suggest that Fofana is excited about the possibility of joining Arsenal and has already held discussions with Arteta about his role at the club. With Lyon’s price tag clear, talks could speed up quickly before Tuesday’s transfer deadline.

• Upcoming Fixtures:
• Ligue 1: Lyon vs Auxerre - 4 Sept 2026, 19:00
• Premier League: Arsenal vs Chelsea - 6 Sept 2026, 17:30