Leeds United and Newcastle United are reportedly among the clubs involved in the race to sign RC Lens midfielder Seko Fofana.
Foot Mercato journalist Santi Aouna has offered a fresh update in the pursuit of Seko Fofana. The 26-year-old RC Lens midfielder could be on the verge of a move to the Premier League with multiple English clubs interested in his services. Newcastle United and Leeds United, in particular, have expressed the desire to sign Fofana, while Burnley are involved in the equation as well.
While Aouna claims Lens are yet to receive any official offer for the midfielder, he adds that all of the interested parties from the Premier League are serious about the player.
A native of Paris, Fofana had an eventful youth career, enjoying spells at Lorient, Paris FC, Bastia and even the Manchester City academy before making his mark at Lens. The youngster joined the Ligue 1 club in the summer of 2020, coming on the back of a few promising few seasons with Udinese in Serie A.
At Lens, the French-Ivorian has become a mainstay in the club’s midfield department, having already notched up over 50 competitive appearances. His contributions alongside Yannick Cahuzac have been key in helping Lens consistently fight for the Europa League spots under the leadership of Franck Haise.
However, Fofana’s spell in Ligue 1 might soon come to an end, with Newcastle United among the clubs interested in him. After signing Kieran Trippier and, most recently, Chris Wood, the Magpies are prepared to sign a new midfielder who can offer competition for Jonjo Shelvey and Isaac Hayden during the second half of the campaign.
Newcastle have been linked with a move to re-sign Georginio Wijnaldum, but in Seko Fofana, they may find themselves a cost-effective alternative. He might turn out to be an excellent option given his considerable experience at the highest level of football and the ability to play anywhere in central midfield.
The Tyneside giants, though, are set to face stiff competition from Leeds United in the pursuit of the 26-year-old midfielder. Much like Eddie Howe, Marcelo Bielsa is also pushing for a new midfielder in January due to a lack of depth in his side and the rather underwhelming performances of last season’s hero Mateusz Klich.
The Whites have also been linked with a move for Nahitan Nandez for a long time. But it appears the Cagliari star could be far too expensive for Leeds, which puts Fofana in contention for a potential move to Elland Road.
However, with neither club making an official bid for the midfielder thus far, it remains to be seen whether Newcastle or Leeds will be able to prise the 26-year-old away from Lens this month.