Crystal Palace have made a late bid to hijack Sunderland’s deal for Lyon winger Malick Fofana on deadline day.
Journalist Santi Aouna reports that despite a total agreement being in place between Lyon and Sunderland, Crystal Palace are trying to hijack the deal. He insists that the situation is one to follow very closely.
Crystal Palace hijack
Sunderland appeared to have pulled off a deadline day coup for Malick Fofana, with a €30m plus deal now in place between the two sides.
Reports in France have made it clear that the 21-year-old winger is flying to England for a medical. The Black Cats have stepped ahead of Arsenal, who were not willing to sanction a permanent deal. They had previously only verbally offered a loan deal to Lyon.
Now it appears that Crystal Palace are looking to insert themselves into the matter. Whether they are willing to match Sunderland’s bid, remains to be seen.
They face the prospect of losing Ismaila Sarr on deadline day. He’s pushing to join Liverpool and has made his feelings clear on that front.
If he departs, which remains a possibility, then Fofana could be the ideal replacement. But that will require beating Sunderland to him at the death. And, of course, sanctioning Sarr’s move to Liverpool as well.
Fofana decision key
The decision will be Malick Fofana’s to make in the coming hours. He appeared set on joining Arsenal but has quickly pivoted to Sunderland this morning.
The Black Cats can offer European football, but so can Crystal Palace as well. So, it may be a case of which club that Fofana deems best for his future.
Or, perhaps his agent is trying to draw up as much Premier League interest as possible on deadline day before he and his client decide where they want to go before 11pm.
