Liverpool eye Lyon’s Malick Fofana as Luis Diaz pushes for Barcelona move
WHAT HAPPENED? Liverpool is bracing for the potential departure of Luis Diaz, with Barcelona strongly interested in signing the Colombian winger. In response, the Reds have identified Lyon’s rising star Malick Fofana as a potential replacement, according to Mundo Deportivo.
THE BIGGER PICTURE Barcelona are eager to strengthen their attacking options this summer and are prioritizing a top-tier left winger. While several names have been linked — including Nico Williams, Rafael Leao, and Marcus Rashford — sporting director Deco reportedly favors Diaz above all.
However, the Catalan giants’ ongoing financial issues could complicate the deal. Diaz’s contract with Liverpool runs until 2027, and although the Reds have reportedly offered an extension, he has yet to sign. In the meantime, Fofana has emerged as a top alternative, having impressed both in Ligue 1 and during Lyon’s Europa League campaign.
WHAT MALICK FOFANA’S AGENT SAID. In a recent interview with AfricaFoot, Fofana’s agent Bobo Fofana named Liverpool as the player’s preferred next club:
“The choice of heart would be Liverpool. He has the potential to enter the rotation, and above all, we would like to see him succeed African legends such as Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, and El Hadji Diouf.”He added that a move to Newcastle could be a smart stepping stone for the Belgian winger before joining one of Europe’s elite.
DID YOU KNOW? Liverpool are expected to demand more than €80 million (£68m/$89m) for Diaz — a figure that could pose a challenge for Barcelona. Nevertheless, if the Blaugrana can offload players and raise funds, they are likely to push hard for their top summer target.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR LIVERPOOL? Having secured the Premier League title, Arne Slot’s side will look to close the season on a high when they face FA Cup winners Crystal Palace at Anfield on Sunday, May 25. Following that, Slot will shift focus to the summer transfer window, with Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong tipped to replace the outbound Trent Alexander-Arnold, who is widely expected to join Real Madrid.