Arsenal is weighing a potential move for Malick Fofana, the 21-year-old winger from Lyon, as the transfer deadline looms this Tuesday.

The Gunners have had their sights set on Fofana since last summer, recognizing the need for a wide attacker following significant player departures. Notably, Gabriel Martinelli was sold to Al Hilal for a record £60m, and Gabriel Jesus is currently in discussions to join Barcelona for approximately £8.5m.

With Lyon needing to offload players after failing to secure a Champions League spot, Fofana stands out as one of their most valuable assets. The Belgian international, who primarily operates on the left wing, could be available for around £50m.

To bolster their attack, Arsenal recently signed left-sided attacker Christos Tzolis after the sale of Leandro Trossard to Besiktas earlier in the transfer window. Manager Mikel Arteta has also expressed interest in securing a marquee attacking player this summer, having previously pursued Vinicius Jr before he renewed his contract with Real Madrid.

In addition to Fofana, Arsenal is eyeing Julian Alvarez from Atletico Madrid, but time is of the essence to finalize what would be a club-record deal for the Argentina international. However, the Gunners are aware that Atletico is resistant to selling their star player, prompting a renewed focus on Fofana.

Interest in Fofana has also been shown by Chelsea, Liverpool, Fulham, Nottingham Forest, as well as European clubs like Bayern Munich, Leipzig, and Napoli.