Everton are still in the market for a new winger this summer. The Toffees have already had a busy few months in the transfer market. The signing of Jack Grealish on loan with an option to buy him from Manchester City has been the crown jewel in the window so far.
Their other main reinforcement in attack has been Thierno Barry, who signed from La Liga side Villarreal. The Toffees also brought attacking midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall to the club from Premier League rivals Chelsea, with Carlos Alcaraz turning his winter loan move into a permanent deal this summer.
However, it seems that a winger is still on the list of Everton’s priorities, with new reports suggesting they will look to sign another attacker.
Everton’s latest attacking target
It seemed for a lot of August that a deal for Southampton winger Tyler Dibling was one of Everton’s main options for a new winger. They were said to be looking to get a move completed despite seeing bids rejected, although it has yet to materialise.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Instead, David Moyes’ side might turn their attention elsewhere. A recent report from TEAMTalk suggests that Lyon’s young Belgian winger Malick Fofana ‘remains a player of interest’ to the Toffees, having previously seen a bid rejected for him earlier in the window.
Now, the deal could be back on if the Merseysiders ‘receive encouragement from the player’s side’ that there is interest in the move.
Earlier in the summer, it was reported that Lyon could demand as much as £51m for the talented winger this summer.
Why Fofana would be a good signing
Described as a “game changer” by football scout Antonio Mango, 20-year-old forward Fofana already carries a great reputation. After establishing himself in the Lyon first team last season, he became a key player for the club.
In 41 appearances across all competitions, the winger, who was born in Aalst, Belgium, found the back of the net 11 times and assisted five times.
That included six goals and one assist in ten appearances in the Europa League.
One of his key traits is his dribbling, with Transfermarkt’s Joachim Durand, explaining that he “shines in one-on-one situations”, which the stats back up.
Last season in Ligue 1, the 20-year-old averaged 6.34 progressive carries per 90 minutes, placing him in the top 3% of forwards in the French top flight.
Goals and assists
0.51
70th
Goal-creating actions
0.62
80th
Progressive carries
6.34
97th
Carries into final third
3.32
92nd
Carries into penalty box
2.21
93rd
Perhaps if this deal gets over the line, Fofana could become Moyes’ version of Romelu Lukaku. There are certainly similarities to the Lyon star and the former Toffees striker, although not positionally, with Lukaku being a clinical number nine rather than a winger.
What a striker he was in that famous Blue shirt, too. Belgium’s all-time record goalscorer played four seasons at Goodison Park and shone in that time. Lukaku scored 87 goals and assisted 27 in 166 appearances for the club.
In his final campaign, he hit 25 Premier League goals, earning himself a move to Manchester United.
The similarities between Lukaku and Fofana may not extend as far as their positions, but there are certainly notable comparisons. Firstly, when the former Chelsea striker joined permanently for £28m back in 2014, it became a club record deal. If Everton pay Lyon the £51m they want this summer, that too would become a club record.
Comparisons can be drawn with their age, too. Lukaku was 20 years of age when he joined the Toffees on loan, and a year older when he made the move permanent. Coincidentally, Fofana is also 20, and another exciting young attacker.
It has worked in the past for Everton, signing a talented young forward from Belgium. How Moyes would surely love the Lyon star to become his own Lukaku, someone dependable in attack and a rich source of goals and assists.
£51m is a hefty fee, but Fofana could be worth every penny if he can replicate Lukaku’s impact on Merseyside.
