'Spoke to Arteta': Arsenal miss out on 21yo winger in dramatic deadline-day twist
Arsenal came surprisingly close to making a late move for Lyon winger Malick Fofana on transfer deadline day.
However, the Gunners ultimately decided against taking the final step to get the deal over the line.
According to The Athletic, Fofana spoke directly with manager Mikel Arteta, prompting the Gunners to engage in conversations with Lyon.
The Ligue 1 outfit wanted an offer of around £30 million to sanction the sale but Arsenal were only prepared to offer a loan.
Fofana eventually secured a move to Sunderland after a dramatic deadline-day saga, with Crystal Palace also pushing to sign the highly-rated winger.
The Black Cats ultimately agreed a package worth £30.8m to bring the Belgium international to the Stadium of Light.
Arsenal needed another winger
The Gunners have strengthened their squad significantly this summer and received a 7/10 rating for their overall transfer business.
However, they may have missed a trick by failing to add another marquee left winger to their ranks.
Fofana is far from an established star at the highest level, but his enormous potential makes him an intriguing option for Arteta.
The Belgium international primarily operates from the left flank, which helps explain why Arsenal were so keen to explore a deal.
Having already signed Christos Tzolis, however, the Premier League champions arguably needed a player ready to deliver immediately rather than another long-term project.
Morgan Rogers could have been the perfect solution, but Arsenal ultimately lost the race for his signature to Chelsea.
Leandro Trossard has also left the club this summer, while Gabriel Martinelli is expected to follow him out of the Emirates and head to Saudi Arabia.
Arteta must now turn his attention towards internal solutions, with Arsenal’s failure to add another proven left winger leaving a glaring hole in his attack.
Stats from Fotmob.com
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