Aston Villa eye Malick Fofana to replace Jhon Duran
Aston Villa are still searching for a forward to fill the gap left by Jhon Duran, who was sold in January for £71m after scoring 12 goals in the first half of the season. Though Marco Asensio and Marcus Rashford added 12 more between them, both have now returned to their parent clubs, leaving Unai Emery needing fresh attacking options.
One of Emery’s top targets appears to be Belgian winger Malick Fofana. According to TEAMtalk, Villa are leading the race to sign the 20-year-old from Lyon, with Liverpool and Arsenal also showing interest. Due to Lyon’s financial issues, Fofana could be available for around £40m.
Fofana has impressed with Lyon since joining from Gent in January 2024, tallying 15 goals and 7 assists in 62 games. His performances in the Europa League have stood out—ranking in the top 1% for non-penalty goals, progressive carries, and touches in the opposition box.
Described as having “frightening speed” and “game-changing potential,” Fofana could become Emery’s next breakout talent—much like Duran was before his sale. With Villa competing in Europe again, Fofana’s arrival could be a timely and strategic addition to Emery’s squad.
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