Arsenal will be keen to sign a midfielder in the summer transfer window to bolster Mikel Arteta’s options going into the new season. Youri Tielemans seemed to be the Gunners priority heading into the window, but negotiations have since stalled.
The Gunners have been linked with a host of midfielders other than Tielemans in this window. One player in particular that the club are reportedly interested in is Seko Fofana from French side Lens.
The Ivorian international followed a trend in the 2021/2022 season, which could suggest that Arsenal will sign the midfielder. He did this by winning the Marc-Vivien Foe award, which has a key significance for the Gunners.
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The Ligue 1 award is handed out every season to the best African player over the course of the campaign in France’s top division. Over the last 10 years, Arsenal have gone on to sign numerous players who has won this award.
Marouane Chamakh won the award in 2009 during his time with Bordeaux before he went on to sign for Arsenal in 2010. For the next two years after, this the award was won by Gervinho, who eventually made the move to north London in 2011.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang won the award in 2013, while Nicolas Pepe claimed the title in 2019 before making a club-record £72m move to Arsenal later in the same summer. There has been a clear trend with the award, which precedes a transfer to the Gunners.
With Fofana claiming the award in the previous campaign, all signs point to a potential move to the Gunners. According to French news outlet L’Equipe, Paris Saint-Germain have held talks regarding the potential signing of Fofana from Lens. Newcastle and Arsenal are also said to be interested in signing the midfielder.
With an alternative to Tielemans likely to be signed, the Gunners have an excellent opportunity to complete a bargain deal for Ivory Coast midfielder Fofana, who already has experience of playing for a Premier League club.
Fofana joined Manchester City in 2013 from Lorient where he would join City’s development squad. He left the Citizens in 2016 during Pep Guardiola’s first season as manager at the club after making the move to Udinese.
However, it is his spell at Lens where he has excelled and showed his quality. The Ivorian played in every league game last season as his side made a surprise push for Champions League qualification before narrowly missing out.
The 27-year-old contributed with 12 goals in 41 matches showing his ability to be utilised as a box-to-box midfielder, which would be useful for the Gunners going into the next season. Arteta lacked a goal source from midfield and Fofana could certainly fill that void.
Mikel Arteta also had problems with the midfield last season due to the lack of quality in squad depth, and that has hindered the club’s progress at times. If the Spaniard opts for three players in the centre of midfield then Fofana would be an excellent option to have on the left-hand side for the future, and his award-winning campaign could suggest a move to Arsenal.
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