Liverpool Football Club have a genuine interest in Lyon winger Malick Fofana as a potential long-term Luis Diaz replacement if he does indeed depart this summer.
The 20-year old Belgian attacker is a burgeoning star that has seen his stock rise during his time in Ligue 1 and he has no shortage of suitors, with Liverpool chief among them.
His current transfer value on Transfermarkt is €30 million, a more than reasonable number for his age and production together.
Where things stand on Malick Fofana to Liverpool
There is no secret that his current club, Lyon, are in a very difficult financial situation. The club only recently won an appeal to reverse the decision that actually saw them briefly relegated to Ligue 2 as a result of their poor books.
So, while they won their appeal and will be allowed to stay in Ligue 1 and participate in the Europa League, they are still in a position of vulnerability on the transfer market.
Fofana's agent has already begun talking up a potential move saying that Fofana would love to play at Liverpool as soon as this season.
While his market value is around €30m, Lyon are desperately holding out for something closer to £50 million.
With their current uncertainty behind the scenes, and the Reds' heavyweight cache in the transfer market this summer, a move for Fofana could be more than feasible. Of course, this all probably hinges on the sale of Luis Diaz who would net a pretty penny for the club.
While Liverpool have been firm that they do not want to sell the Colombian, Malick Fofana is seen as an ideal Luis Diaz replacement.
Who is Malick Fofana the player?
The young Lyon winger is one of the future faces of the Belgian national team setup and he could find a new level if given the chance to learn and grow under Arne Slot and the great talent at Liverpool.
In his one full season in French football this past campaign, Fofana registered 11 goals and 6 assists from 41 appearances in all competitions.
He spends the majority of his time on the pitch in the attacking third as he is always looking to get forward whenever possible. Goal creation and causing havoc at the back are his preferred ways to play.
He’s at his most dangerous with the ball at his feet. He has very quick and technical movements and can corkscrew any defender. It's no shock that Liverpool sees a lot of Diaz in him.
He has a rare ability to move things forward at pace without losing much control of the ball which allows him to pivot his attacking angle at higher speeds which makes life even more difficult for defenders.
He would offer Slot the same kind of directness on the left wing that we see from Diaz and Cody Gakpo.
His close-control is already next level and he could very well find himself often cutting inside or towards the byline drawing an extra defender, thus creating more room for the likes of Salah and others.
A Fine Luis Diaz Alternative
If Liverpool does not move Diaz this summer, this all might be a moot point. However, even if they don't sell their No. 7, but especially if they do, Malick Fofana makes for a reasonably priced transfer target to step in and ease the burden in any capacity.
The Reds having their eye on the Lyon starlet is astute transfer business from their perspective as he could return double his value over the life of a contract.
Whether he is brought in as a Luis Diaz replacement or simply an addition to Slot's attacking ranks, he has the player profile and makeup to fit perfectly into the Liverpool system. He is a viable Liverpool transfer target.