Malick Fofana saga explodes as Sunderland battle Crystal Palace after £33.4m agreement – extraordinary details emerge
Sunderland and Crystal Palace are locked in a dramatic fight for Malick Fofana, with conflicting reports and extraordinary claims emerging around the deal.
Malick Fofana’s deadline day saga has taken another extraordinary turn, with Sunderland attempting to wrestle the Lyon winger back from Crystal Palace after the London club appeared to have hijacked their deal.
Sunderland had reached an agreement with Lyon worth around €35million including bonuses, approximately £30million, and the French club gave Fofana permission to travel to England to complete a medical and the necessary formalities. Foot Mercato reported earlier that the 21-year-old had collected his belongings from Lyon’s training ground before being cleared to make the journey.
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Crystal Palace then entered with a higher proposal. L’Equipe reports Palace have agreed a package worth €39million including bonuses, around £33.4million, after former Lyon coach Pierre Sage personally spoke to Fofana and attempted to convince him to choose Selhurst Park.
That seemingly put Palace in control, but Sunderland have responded. French journalist Romain Molina has made a series of remarkable claims, including that Kyril Louis-Dreyfus has become personally involved and is overseeing the medical process as the Black Cats attempt what would effectively be a reverse hijack.
Molina also claims Sunderland have offered a more generous commission package to Fofana’s representatives. Fofana’s uncle works for Roc Nation and is claimed to have subsequently spoken to the player as the 21-year-old reconsidered his destination.
There are also conflicting reports over Fofana’s physical movements. Santi Aouna reported that the Belgium international had taken off for Sunderland, while L’Equipe journalist Hugo Guillemet subsequently claimed he had not boarded the plane and was instead waiting to see whether Palace could finish the deal.
The underlying picture is clear even if his location is not: Sunderland and Palace are locked in a frantic fight for his signature. Fofana had previously been excited by Sunderland’s project, with Europa League football forming part of the attraction and a proposed contract until 2031 discussed. Palace have countered with a larger club-to-club package and the influence of Sage, who knows the winger well from Lyon.
Nothing is done yet. Sunderland looked to have him, Palace then appeared to take control, and now the Black Cats are pushing back again. This really has become the transfer saga of all transfer sagas. Indeed, Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie has provided another update, stressing that the Lyon winger has not boarded a flight to Sunderland despite earlier reports suggesting otherwise.
Downie says Sunderland are instead putting plans in place for Fofana to undergo a medical in France as the Black Cats continue their deadline-day battle with Crystal Palace for the 21-year-old Belgium international. Sunderland are not yet confident of completing the deal, but Downie believes the current picture is roughly 70-30 in their favour.
That represents another significant swing after Palace had earlier appeared to move ahead in the race following an agreement with Lyon. The two Premier League clubs have effectively been involved in a tug-of-war for Fofana throughout the day, with conflicting reports emerging over the player’s movements and preferred destination.