Liverpool heavily interested in move to sign £50m forward – Report

Liverpool and Chelsea Keep Tabs on Malick Fofana as Competition Grows

Rising Profile of Ligue 1 Prospect

CaughtOffside have reported that both Liverpool and Chelsea are monitoring Lyon winger Malick Fofana, one of Europe’s most highly regarded young talents. The Belgian wide player is only 19 yet already established in Ligue 1, with “two goals and one assist in nine appearances” this season.

He has shown maturity beyond his years, impressing scouts across the continent with his balance of agility, directness and tactical intelligence. Interest is not limited to the Premier League either, with “Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, and Inter Milan” also tracking his progress. Bayern Munich even reached “a verbal agreement” at one stage, only for the deal to fall apart before completion.

Recruitment Priorities Still Elsewhere

Despite the excitement surrounding Fofana, neither club are ready to move yet. CaughtOffside state that “neither Chelsea nor Liverpool currently view Fofana as a top priority”. At Stamford Bridge, the recruitment focus has shifted towards Morgan Rogers and Kenan Yildiz, while Liverpool are said to be actively weighing up “options like Michael Olise and Antoine Semenyo”.

Photo: IMAGO

Still, the admiration is real. Liverpool “made concrete contact with Fofana’s representatives during the summer”, although talks stalled before reaching an advanced stage. That suggests genuine interest rather than a mere scouting exercise.

Transfer Timeline Likely Set for 2026

Lyon are said to be asking for “£50 million”, a figure that already drew bids “close to €45 million” from Fulham and Everton in the previous window. Fofana rejected both in favour of stability, a rare display of long-term thinking from a young player. Crucially, his camp appear aligned with the club in accepting that an eventual transfer feels “inevitable”.

The report suggests summer 2026 as the most realistic point of departure, but the momentum could accelerate if one of the elite clubs miss out on their primary wide forward targets.

Why Liverpool Will Be Watching Closely

Under Arne Slot, Liverpool have placed renewed emphasis on athletic wide forwards who can interchange across the front three. Fofana’s versatility, control in tight spaces and defensive work rate make him a prototype fit for a system reliant on intensity across all phases.

At 19, he represents a long-term evolution signing rather than an immediate first-teamer. That could suit Liverpool’s planning, especially if Mohamed Salah’s future remains unresolved deep into next year.

Our View – Anfield Index Analysis

Liverpool supporters will file this one under “one to monitor” rather than “get excited about immediately”. The fact that the club already held “concrete contact” with Fofana’s entourage means he is more than a name on a spreadsheet. When Liverpool speak to agents, there is usually intent somewhere in the background.

There will be questions, of course. Is £50 million too much for potential rather than immediate output? Would he be blocked by the likes of Cody Gakpo? Or is he being viewed as a post-Salah succession piece?

Some fans will urge Liverpool to act early rather than watch Chelsea or Manchester United move faster. Others will argue that Slot’s title-winning side does not need another project signing, it needs ready-made quality if big exits happen.

Still, the profile feels right. A grounded young winger who turned down Everton and Fulham because he wanted to “avoid jeopardising his first-team status” suggests character as well as ability. If Liverpool return to his camp in 2026, they will likely find a more complete player who has already made his senior mistakes elsewhere.

For now, keep him bookmarked. If Olise or Semenyo fall through, Malick Fofana could quickly become the headline name on Liverpool’s list rather than the footnote.