Arsenal have decided against pursuing a deal for Malick Fofana, opening the door for Sunderland to complete a move for the Lyon winger before Tuesday's transfer deadline, according to reports.
The 21-year-old Belgian had been on the Gunners' radar as they continued to explore ways of adding depth to their attacking options before the window closes. Fofana was reportedly offered to Arsenal, and the north London club looked into the terms of a potential transfer, though they never fully committed to pursuing the winger with serious intent.
Manager Mikel Arteta is understood to have held discussions with Fofana directly as part of Arsenal's due diligence, and the player himself was said to be open to a switch to the Emirates Stadium. However, the deal ultimately stalled over financial terms, with Lyon holding out for a fee in the region of £30-35million — a valuation Arsenal were unwilling to meet.
That reluctance to break their spending threshold has paved the way for Sunderland to step in, with Fofana now set to undergo a medical ahead of finalizing his move to the newly promoted Premier League side.
The decision to walk away from Fofana fits a broader pattern for Arsenal this summer, where the club have consistently refused to exceed their own valuations for targets, even at the risk of losing out on players they have shown genuine interest in.
A similar situation played out with Morgan Rogers, where Arsenal invested considerable effort in trying to negotiate a deal, only for the process to drag on. Chelsea eventually swooped in and secured the attacker for a fee of £117million, well beyond what Arsenal were prepared to spend.
Arsenal did show they are capable of getting deals over the line when the price is right, as evidenced by the protracted negotiations that eventually led to Bruno Guimaraes' £75million transfer from Newcastle. That deal took time to materialize but was ultimately completed on terms the Gunners were comfortable with.
Attention now turns to Arsenal's attacking options as the window nears its close. The club is expected to see several players depart, with Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus and Fabio Vieira all poised for exits, while youngster Ethan Nwaneri is expected to join Borussia Dortmund on loan. These anticipated departures have prompted Arsenal to assess whether they need to bring in fresh attacking reinforcements before Tuesday's deadline.
Despite the exits, sources suggest Arteta and the club's hierarchy remain satisfied with the depth and quality of the squad already assembled this summer. Arsenal are said to be prepared to make another move in attack only if the right opportunity presents itself — one that makes financial sense and offers a clear upgrade to the team's overall level.
Julian Alvarez has been identified as Arsenal's primary target in that department, but there has been no signal from the Argentine striker that he is interested in a move to the Emirates this summer. Alvarez was seen training with Atletico Madrid on Tuesday morning, a sign that suggests any late twist involving the forward joining Arsenal before the deadline remains highly unlikely at this stage.
As the transfer window enters its final hours, Arsenal's approach appears set to remain one of patience and financial discipline, even as rivals move quickly to secure targets the Gunners have considered.
Based on reporting from standard-football.