David Datro Fofana's loan move to Union Berlin has been confirmed with the Chelsea star set to play the 2023/24 season in Germany.
After arriving in the January transfer window from Molde, Fofana made just one senior start for the Blues before featuring in Premier League 2 on numerous occasions. Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku both arriving this summer, along with Armando Broja returning from injury, first-team minutes under Mauricio Pochettino looked hard to come by.
A temporary move to Strasbourg was brought forward after it was confirmed that the ownership model that purchased the Blues last summer had acquired a majority stake in the French club. There was also other clubs interested in taking on Fofana, but Union Berlin, who will be playing in the Champions League next season, have won the race.
A striker departing could indicate that there are plans in place to bring in another natural No.9 before the start of the 2023/24 season. Dusan Vlahovic is one of those options, but according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano Pochettino first wants to watch the players already on the books in action.
Speaking to the Mark Goldbridge That's Football YouTube channel, he said: "Chelsea have always appreciated Dusan Vlahovic but at the moment there is no negotiation at all between Vlahovic and Chelsea.
"I'm sure that before signing a new striker, if they sign a new striker because it is not guaranteed at all, but in case they do I think it will take some time.
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"Mauricio Pochettino wants to see Armando Broja in training and what kind of impact Nicolas Jackson is going to have with the squad. So I think before going there and putting £60million-£80million on a new striker they want to make sure they really need that and what kind of skills they need."
