Why £26m star with "top-level potential" would be a bargain for Arsenal despite Liverpool & Rodrygo talks

Arsenal have been one of the busiest Premier League teams in the transfer market this summer.

The Gunners have plugged some of the holes in their squad as Mikel Arteta’s side prepare for another potential Premier League title bout next season.

Arsenal have spent around £120 million on four new signings, bringing in Kepa Arrizabalaga, Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard, and Noni Madueke.

But they’re not done yet. Arteta still wants a left winger, a striker, and an attacking midfielder.

The Gunners have been linked with a move for Rodrygo, but multiple reports have claimed it will be highly complicated to get a deal over the line.

They have since turned their attention to Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze, but Arsenal’s transfer plans should lead them straight to Olympique Lyon gem Malick Fofana.

The Belgian was linked with Arsenal earlier in the summer, but Liverpool appear to be leading the race.

However, Arsenal should be pulling out all the stops to bring him to the Emirates Stadium. He could be a bargain addition and a cost-effective alternative to Rodrigo and Eze.

In the modern game, the best way to identify a world-class player, a top talent, or a wonderkid is to look at the numbers. The statistics don’t lie, especially for wingers who are judged on goals and assists.

But sometimes stats do not tell the full story, and that’s particularly evident in Fofana’s case.

Fofana notched 11 goals and six assists in 41 appearances last term. His numbers may not be world-class levels, but scratch beneath the surface and you’ll find a player bubbling with untapped potential. 

What makes Fofana special isn’t just what he’s already done, but what he looks capable of becoming.

He’s a rare two-footed winger who can operate on either flank. His versatility has caught the attention of several Premier League clubs, including Liverpool and Chelsea, and it’s easy to see why. 

Fofana’s unpredictability in one-on-one situations makes him a defender’s nightmare. He can drive to the byline for a cross or cut inside and unleash a rocket.

Last season, he averaged just 1.5 shots per 90 minutes in Ligue 1 but still scored five goals, splitting them almost evenly between his left and right foot. 

It’s difficult to find a player with that kind of balance, and you’d expect his numbers to skyrocket if he joins an ultra-attacking team like Arsenal.

Fofana’s creativity also caught the eye. He recorded an expected assists (xA) rate of 0.25 per 90.

Only Rayan Cherki (0.52) bettered his numbers in the Lyon squad, but he only had four assists to show for it. If he had teammates with better finishing ability, he could easily have hit double figures.

Arsenal have made some shrewd moves in the summer transfer window, but they could be missing a trick by passing on a prodigy like Fofana.

The 20-year-old is a “top-level talent” and is valued at £26m on Transfermarkt. Lyon will certainly ask for more, and there are rumours that they’d only entertain bids of around £45m.

Even at that price, he could still be a bargain for Arsenal.

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