Arsenal set price to sign former Chelsea transfer target Malick Fofana

Arsenal are weighing up a deadline-day move for Malick Fofana after being given encouragement in their pursuit of the Lyon winger.

The Gunners are keen to bolster Mikel Arteta’s title-winning squad with one more attacking signing before the summer transfer window shuts on Tuesday night.

Arsenal, who have enjoyed a bright start to their Premier League title defence, have signed Bruno Guimaraes, Ezri Konsa and Christos Tzolis so far this summer.

Tzolis has impressed on the left wing but Arteta is interested in another player who can play in that position after agreeing to sell both Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli.

Arsenal are considering an official bid for Fofana after being offered the Belgium international by intermediaries ahead of deadline day.

Fofana was linked with a host of clubs last summer, with Arsenal’s Premier League rivals Chelsea, Liverpool, Fulham and Nottingham Forest all contacting Lyon to discuss a deal.

The Independent say there is ‘a need’ for Lyon to raise some cash after failing to qualify for the Champions League, with Fofana potentially available for around £50m.

European football journalist Andy Brassell believes Fofana would be a shrewd signing for Arsenal after they failed to bring in Brazil icon Vinicius Junior from Real Madrid.

‘Straight off, ever since Lyon have been eliminated from the Champions League play-offs, they’ve had a lot of players on the block,’ he told talkSPORT.

‘They are not just willing to sell, they need to sell, and they need to make around €50million, before the window shuts.

‘The quickest way of doing that, because they have at least one more definitely out already, is Malick Fofana.

‘Obviously, he’s been linked with a lot of different teams so far. Hull City made an approach and rejected that pretty much out of hand, slightly more politely perhaps.

‘Linked to Roma for a number of weeks, seems like Leipzig might be in and there’s even been talk in France that he’s been offered to Arsenal.

‘Now, even though he’s not Vinicius Jr, clearly, I think him being offered to Arsenal is really interesting because he is a player exactly in the spot where they want a player.

‘His ceiling is very, very high. He missed most of last season because of a really bad ankle injury that he received in the game against Strasbourg.

‘He still had some pain when he came back, so it took a while for him to get that sorted out and since he has got that sorted out, he’s been really good in the early part of this season for Lyon when he has played.

‘I think he can add more goals to his game as well. He’s got speed and he’s really good at bringing the ball up the pitch quickly.

‘I think he was clocked the season before the one he was injured in as the fastest player in Ligue 1. So, I think that’s an interesting one for sure.’

Reports in France claim Fofana has already spoken to Arteta about a move to Arsenal and is excited about the possibility of joining the Premier League champions.

Bukayo Saka earned Arsenal a 1-0 win at Aston Villa on Monday night after the Gunners began their title defence with a routine 3-0 victory over Coventry.

Asked about Arsenal’s transfer plans after the Villa win, Arteta said: ‘As I said, we’re trying to improve the squad – until tomorrow night we’re going to try to do that.

‘I’ve been disconnected from the world for 24 hours because I think my energy probably has to be on the match, but I will get back on it now.’

As well as selling wingers Martinelli and Trossard, Arsenal have also offloaded Gabriel Jesus in a shock deal with Barcelona.

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