Team newspaper: Lyon is willing to sell M-Fofana at a discount because he is really short of money; he wants to play in the European Championship

Hupu August 21, the French Media Newspaper wrote a column on the Lyon Summer Window.

Last Sunday at the Borat Stadium, although everything was not satisfactory, his existence itself posed a constant threat. He kept forcing his opponent and decisively contributed his only goal in the game to George Mikautaz.

Lyon's away win against Lance on the first day of the Ligue 1 was partly due to the fact that Malik Fofana, the only starting offensive player who has not left this summer.

Now, Rayan Cherki, Alexander Lacazette and Thiago Almada have left one after another, Paul Fonseca relies heavily on the 20-year-old Belgian winger. His contract expires in 2028 and he will continue to remain threatening on the front line, as his speed, shooting and finishing ability are rare and valuable assets in this level of game.

But the Portuguese coach is also well aware of the economic reality of Lyon this summer: the club is on the verge of bankruptcy, but is saved by shareholders and creditors who disdain to sponsor. Under strict DNCG supervision, Lyon now hopes to deliver on its promises, including a substantial increase in sales and a substantial reduction in employee wages, which has so far been successfully implemented.

However, there is another restriction, and management still needs to inject about 40 million euros into the club. In theory, they must accomplish this by June 30, 2026, but the pressure remains huge.

The new chairman Michelle Con, shareholders and the Ares Fund led to John Tuctor leaving the club, but they did so to limit losses and recover costs.

The only real interest in right now is Everton, who offered a quotation of 36 million euros (including bonuses) about a month ago.

Lyon management offered their British counterparts a asking price of more than 40 million euros (excluding bonuses), which could lead to worsening of the situation in Lyon, but Fofana rejected the Toffee offer...

For now? The winger is willing to leave, but to go to the next level, join a club that is eligible for the Champions League.

So he is fighting for time, as Bayern Munich and Arsenal have his name on the roster, and everything is likely to accelerate in the last few days before the transfer window is closed, especially in the Premier League.