As the summer transfer window begins, Aston Villa is still searching for a player to replace Jhon Duran.
Duran was transferred for £71 million in January, having netted 12 times for Villa in the first half of the season.
Although Marco Asensio and Marcus Rashford offered attacking support between January and May, contributing a combined 12 goals, both players have now returned to their respective parent clubs.
Consequently, Unai Emery is looking for a forward in the transfer market capable of significantly impacting the team. Could he target Ligue 1 once more?
Aston Villa Reportedly Ahead in Race for Exciting Belgian Winger
It seems unlikely Rashford will rejoin Villa next season. The club has reportedly expressed interest in Tyler Dibling and Jadon Sancho to strengthen their options on the wings.
Instead of solely focusing on Premier League players, the manager is also looking at European talent. According to TEAMtalk, Villa is among the frontrunners to sign talented Lyon winger Malick Fofana.
Liverpool and Arsenal are also interested in the player, and reports suggest Lyon`s financial situation might make Fofana available for around £40 million this summer.
Fofana is a young, left-footed talent poised to make his mark in the Premier League. Could Emery see him as the ideal replacement for Duran?
Why Malick Fofana Would Be a Key Signing for Villa
Duran undoubtedly possessed the potential to become Emery`s primary attacking threat, but the substantial offer from the Middle East proved impossible to refuse.
The young player impressed greatly with his performances, often coming off the bench for the Midlands club. He ultimately scored 20 goals in 78 appearances, though only 17 of these were starts.
| Malick Fofana`s Lyon Stats (2024/25) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Metric | Ligue 1 | Europa League |
| Goals | 5 | 6 |
| Assists | 4 | 1 |
| Big chances created | 6 | 1 |
| Key passes per game | 0.9 | 1 |
| Successful dribbles per game | 0.8 | 0.9 |
Emery has been seeking a talent similar to Duran since his departure, and the Belgian starlet Fofana could be his next exciting young forward acquisition. Journalist Antonio Mango has specifically praised Fofana`s `frightening speed` and `game-changing potential` – characteristics reminiscent of Duran.
The 20-year-old first played for Gent in the 2022/23 season, performing well enough to earn a transfer to Lyon in January 2024.
His time with the French club has been quite successful. In 62 matches, the young player has contributed to 22 goals (15 goals and 7 assists), showing particular improvement last season.
Talent scout Jacek Kulig highlighted Fofana`s “flashes of his enormous potential” in April, noting his particularly dangerous performances in the Europa League.
Statistical analysis shows Fofana excelled in the Europa League when compared to other players in his position, ranking in the top 1% per 90 minutes for non-penalty goals (1.05), progressive carries (7.88), and touches in the attacking penalty area (8.23).
His explosive style and drive to create opportunities in the final third make him a promising prospect, and he could continue to develop effectively under Emery at Villa.
Like the left-footed Duran, Fofana represents an exciting young signing with significant potential, and he is certainly capable of making a similar impact to the Colombian forward.
Given Villa`s participation in the Europa League, a competition where Fofana particularly shone, bringing the promising Belgian to the Midlands this summer could prove to be a very smart move by the manager.
