Chelsea are still in the hunt for talented winger Malick Fofana, despite Nottingham Forest reaching an agreement with Olympique Lyon for the youngster’s transfer, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.
Fofana, who has Guinean heritage but represents Belgium at youth level, is attracting considerable attention across Europe following Lyon’s relegation to Ligue 2.
The 19-year-old is widely seen as one of the most promising talents in French football and could be on the move this summer as Lyon grapple with serious financial instability.
Romano reports that while Forest have agreed terms with Lyon, they are yet to finalise personal terms with Fofana, who is believed to be prioritising a move to a UEFA Champions League club.
Chelsea, who have been monitoring him for months, remain very much in contention and are expected to make a formal approach soon.
German champions Bayern Munich and Italian side Napoli have also registered interest and could rival Chelsea in the coming days.
The player’s preference for top-level European competition gives Champions League-qualified clubs a potential edge over Forest in the ongoing negotiations.
Lyon’s demotion to Ligue 2 has placed additional pressure on the club to offload key assets like Fofana, with a host of European sides now circling for a cut-price deal.
Fofana made 30 appearances for Lyon last season across all competitions and is seen as a versatile wide player with pace and technical flair.
As things stand, the race for his signature remains open, but Chelsea’s continued interest and stronger sporting project could prove decisive in the final outcome of the deal.
