Malick Fofana

Arsenal walk away from Fofana, with Sunderland and Crystal Palace fighting over him to the last hour

The name came out of nowhere on 31 August, in the last useful hours of the window. David Ornstein reports talks between Arsenal and Lyon over the 21-year-old Belgian winger, and a player who wants the move. Fabrizio Romano spells out the sticking point: Lyon value him at 40 million euros, Arsenal will not match that, and the two clubs are working on a structure that would let the deal happen anyway. Get French Football News points out that Crystal Palace came close to an agreement earlier this summer before Fofana turned the move down himself. Under contract until 2028, he has 19 goals in 83 games for Lyon, two of them in five outings this season. Ornstein also notes the move does not have unanimous backing inside Arsenal.

Latest development

1. 1 September (evening): Arsenal are out. The club were invited on Monday to make an offer and did not follow up, refusing to match Lyon's valuation, and Romano writes plainly that they had never planned to pay a package of 35 or 40 million euros. The Belgian has gone elsewhere: Sunderland agreed with Lyon at around 30 million plus 5 to 6 million in add-ons on a five-year deal, then Crystal Palace tried to jump the queue with a package close to 37 million, and by the end of the day Sky Sports described a player stuck at Lyon airport in front of two jets, one for London and one for the north east. Neither club had published a statement at the time of writing, but the part that concerns us is settled: Arsenal will not sign Malick Fofana.

   1 September — The approach is now formal: Arsenal have gone club to club with Lyon, and David Ornstein reports that Fofana has given his green light, with talks moving on to his personal terms. The sticking point has not shifted an inch. Lyon want their 40 million euro package, Romano repeats that Arsenal will not go that far and will only move if the price becomes reasonable, and the two clubs are instead looking for a structure that suits everyone before tonight's deadline.