Arsenal weigh £50m deadline day move for Lyon winger Fofana as Alvarez deal fades

Arsenal are weighing a deadline day move for Lyon winger Malick Fofana, with the Premier League champions returning to a target they first pursued last summer as hopes of signing Julian Alvarez from Atletico Madrid fade.

The 21-year-old Belgium international, who favours the left wing but can operate across the front line, is available for around £50m. Lyon’s need to sell is pressing — the French club failed to qualify for the Champions League, and Fofana is among their most valuable assets.

Arsenal’s interest in Fofana is not new. The Gunners tracked him throughout last summer alongside a host of other clubs, with Chelsea, Liverpool, Fulham and Nottingham Forest all contacting Lyon about his availability, as did Bayern Munich, RB Leipzig and Napoli.

The move has gained fresh urgency after Atletico Madrid held firm over Alvarez, refusing to part with the Argentina international despite Arsenal’s pursuit of what would have been a club-record deal. With Tuesday’s deadline approaching, Mikel Arteta’s side have pivoted back to Fofana as their primary target.

Arsenal have already reshaped their attack significantly this window. Gabriel Martinelli was sold to Al Hilal for a record £60m, while Gabriel Jesus is in talks to join Barcelona for around £8.5m. Leandro Trossard also departed earlier in the summer, joining Besiktas, and left-sided attacker Christos Tzolis has since been added to the squad.

Arteta had been determined to bring in a marquee attacking name before the window closed, with the club also pursuing Vinicius Jr before the Brazil forward signed a new contract at Real Madrid. Fofana, should a deal be agreed, would represent a significant addition — a young, versatile forward with established top-flight experience and a growing international profile.