Sunderland’s agreement to sign Lyon winger Malick Fofana has been thrown into doubt after Crystal Palace made a late attempt to hijack the deal on transfer deadline day.
The 21-year-old Belgium international had been expected to travel to the North East to complete a medical after Sunderland agreed a fee with the French club. Reports put the initial value of the deal at around €30 million, with add-ons taking the overall package higher.
However, Palace have since entered the race and are believed to have reached an agreement worth about €37 million with Lyon. The London club’s new manager, Pierre Sage, is understood to have spoken to Fofana on Tuesday.
Fofana is now reportedly considering a move to Selhurst Park, leaving Sunderland facing an anxious wait to discover whether their late coup will be completed.
Arsenal had also shown interest in the winger as they looked for attacking reinforcements, but the Premier League champions were understood to be unwilling to meet Lyon’s asking price.
Fofana joined Lyon from Belgian club Gent in January 2024 and has established himself as one of the Ligue 1 side’s most promising wide players. He has also made five senior appearances for Belgium.
The Premier League transfer window closes at 11pm on Tuesday, September 1, with clubs able to use a deal sheet for transfers agreed before the deadline while final paperwork is completed.
