‘Slightly Improved’ Terms Puts Sunderland On Course To See Off Crystal Palace For Malick Fofana | OneFootball

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Sunderland look set to have won the race for Malick Fofana, who has snubbed Crystal Palace for the Black Cats, who offered ‘slightly improved’ terms to Lyon, but more importantly to the player’s camp.

Regis Le Bris’ side were extremely passive in the majority of the window, as until late August, the free signing Thomas Meunier was the only player to join the club.

However, they accelerated to sign Dayann Methalie and Jules Ahoka to beef up two more positions, and Tottenham Hotspur defender Kevin Danso also joined on loan.

Following Simon Adringra’s loan departure to Ajax, Lyon’s 21-year-old winger Fofana emerged as their top target.

Arsenal initially showed interest in him, but after the Gunners pulled out of the deal, he looked set for a move to the Black Cats.

However, another London club in the shape of Palace tried to hijack the deal, and Sunderland attempted to hijack it back.

It was also suggested that even though the 21-year-old is having his medical in France, he had no idea where he was going.

Sunderland, though, have now won the race for the 21-year-old winger, according to French sports daily L’Equipe, after Le Bris’ side offered more favourable terms to the French club and Fofana’s representatives.

It has also been suggested that Lyon are set to pocket north of €35m for the Belgian, who is now headed to the north-east club.

They also made a move for Leeds United’s Noah Okafor, but the Yorkshire club rebuffed their approach.

The 21-year-old wide attacker is primarily a left-winger but is also comfortable on the other wing.

Fofana has 27 goal contributions in 84 games for the Ligue 1 giants and Sunderland will want him to hit the ground running.

Now it remains to be seen when the Black Cats will make Fofana’s capture official, which appears to be a matter of time now.