Liverpool, Arsenal and Barcelona have stepped into the same lane for Malick Fofana, with a ‘confidential’ report in Spain placing the Lyon winger on three shortlists at once. The lines are clear. Liverpool and Arsenal have shown the most interest, Barcelona have opened talks with the agent, and Lyon’s stance points to summer rather than January.
Two months ago, Fofana said Liverpool and Chelsea were keen last summer but would not meet Lyon’s €50m price. On 10 October, agent Frederico Pena pushed the case further, arguing the 20-year-old “deserves” a move to the elite end of the market. Now, Barcelona have joined the chase as they weigh their left flank where Marcus Rashford is on loan from Manchester United with a €30m option still to be decided.
Lyon’s finances add a twist. Barcelona believe the situation could be leveraged. Yet the club’s general manager Michael Gerlinger has ruled out a January sale on Canal+, a line relayed in France: no winter exit for Fofana. Transfermarkt pins his value at €30m, but Lyon are expected to ask for more. The working band is €30-50m+, depending on timing and competitive pressure.
Liverpool also looking at Malick Fofana
Arsenal will face Liverpool competition for Malick Fofana
Liverpool’s interest has been consistent, from last summer’s checks to the present. The profile fits: a direct wide player who breaks lines and offers immediate depth. With public chatter about future-proofing the forward line, Fofana’s age and output trajectory make sense as a medium-term play rather than a panic buy.
The headline for Anfield is timing. With January off the table per Lyon, any move would tilt to the summer window when fee, squad space and pathway can be aligned without squeezing mid-season plans.
Barcelona’s plan for the left wing
Hansi Flick wants a defined left-side threat. Rashford’s loan comes with that €30m purchase option, but no final call has been made. Barcelona have contacted Fofana’s camp to gauge feasibility and price. If Lyon soften amid financial pressures, Barça will try to move quicklywhile knowing the Premier League pair are deep in the race.
The Catalans’ equation is familiar: sporting need vs. budget limits. Fofana sits at the top of their list, but competition and Lyon’s ask will set the pace.
Arsenal interest Malick Fofana
Arsenal have joined Liverpool at the front of the queue. The logic is straightforward: add a young, high-ceiling winger who can stretch games and keep output flowing across a brutal calendar. The Gunners’ approach is rarely reactive; this reads like positioning for summer, not a mid-season swing that Lyon have already ruled out.
Arsenal’s advantage is structure and clarity of role. If the price lands in the low- to mid-€40m range, they will be in every conversation.
Lyon have planted a flag: no January sale. That funnels all three clubs toward end-of-season talks. Transfermarkt’s €30m tag is a marker, not a guide; last summer’s €50m stance still hangs over this saga. Expect any final number to float between those poles, and expect the agent to keep the heat on.
Editorial verdict: the race is real, but the clock matters more than the badge. With January closed by Lyon, the story shifts to summer where Liverpool and Arsenal’s “most interest” meets Barcelona’s left-wing plan, and the fee settles somewhere in the €30–50m+ lane.
