Nottingham Forest have taken the first step in the pursuit of highly-rated winger Malick Fofana by reaching an agreement with Ligue 1 side Lyon, as revealed by Fabrizio Romano. The 20-year-old Belgian is one of the most sought-after young forwards in Europe and although the clubs have agreed on terms, Forest still need to secure the player’s approval before finalising the transfer.
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Forest shake hands with Lyon on FofanaYet to agree on terms with the playerBayern, Chelsea, and Napoli are also keenFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Chelsea have emerged as serious contenders for Fofana, with Romano noting that the Blues remain “keen” on securing his services. However, they are not alone; European heavyweights Bayern Munich and Napoli are also monitoring the situation closely. With such strong interest from clubs playing in the Champions League, Fofana is reportedly biding his time to see what other options materialise before making a final decision on his next destination.
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Fofana enjoyed an impressive campaign last season, scoring 11 goals and contributing six assists. Primarily a right-winger, the Belgian is known for his adaptability, capable of operating on either wing. For a Chelsea side in need of increased firepower and width, his profile fits seamlessly into their tactical requirements.
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Lyon’s unexpected relegation due to financial issues has created a window of opportunity for clubs to pounce on their top talent. The French side are expected to offload several players in the coming weeks to ease their financial burden. For Chelsea, this presents a chance to bring in the forward.
The West London club has already made moves in the transfer window, with the acquisition of young striker Liam Delap and expectations that Jamie Gittens will also arrive shortly. Fofana could be the final piece in Chelsea’s attacking overhaul as they aim to rejuvenate their forward line.
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While Forest’s early agreement with Lyon gives them a head start, they face an uphill battle to convince Fofana to choose them over clubs offering European competition. Chelsea, with their Champions League pedigree, are seen as more attractive on paper, and Bayern and Napoli present similar advantages. However, should Forest manage to get the deal over the line, it would mark a significant statement of intent and a major coup for the Midlands club.
