Arsenal ‘only pursued loan’ as Sunderland sealed £30.9m Malick Fofana deal | OneFootball

Sunderland gained an edge over Arsenal in the chase for Malick Fofana by committing to a permanent transfer, according to The Athletic. The Black Cats ultimately agreed a package of €30m plus €6m in add-ons, around £25.7m rising to £30.9m.

The 21-year-old was offered to Arsenal late in the window, with sporting director Andrea Berta described as a long-standing admirer. Arsenal explored a move and Fofana spoke directly with Mikel Arteta as talks progressed.

Berta already had ties with Fofana’s representatives, Roc Nation Sports, having dealt with the agency over Vinicius Jr and Gabriel Martinelli. Arsenal also engaged Lyon, who were seeking about £30m for the winger after missing out on Champions League qualification.

Arsenal were said to be ready only to pursue a loan, with sources close to the talks claiming a permanent bid risked edging too close to UEFA spending limits. Arsenal dispute that reading and say they stepped back for technical reasons rather than financial ones.

That stance opened the door for Sunderland, who were prepared to commit significant funds to a permanent deal. Crystal Palace made a dramatic late attempt to hijack the move, but after a chaotic final day in which the destination changed several times, Sunderland secured Fofana. The details add context to one of their summer’s standout signings.

Source: Sunderland Echo

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