Chelsea and AEK Athens have reportedly ramped their talks regarding a late move for 21-year-old Ivorian striker David Datro Fofana.
According to a report by The Athletic, David Datro Fofana remains the subject of interest from AEK Athens. The Greek giants are keen on signing the out-of-favour Chelsea striker before Wednesday’s summer transfer deadline. So, the Blues have intensified the talks to sell the 21-year-old misfit in the coming hours.
David Datro Fofana and his Chelsea woes
David Datro Fofana has been unable to stamp his authority since joining Chelsea in a deal worth €10 million from Molde FK in January 2023. The Ivorian has been one of several failed transfers under the current regime, with Clearlake Capital’s infamous hoarding policy crowding several players out of fair opportunities with the first-team squad.
So, the 21-year-old has managed only 113 minutes of game time across four appearances thus far for Chelsea. Fofana spent the 2023/24 season on loan at Union Berlin and Burnley, although neither spell was successful for the young, highly-rated striker.
Things have gone from bad to worse for Fofana since returning from his loan spell with Burnley, with Enzo Maresca banishing him from the first-team picture. The Ivory Coast international is one of several players without a long-term future at Chelsea. Meanwhile, the situation has not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several clubs, including AEK Athens.
Greek move on the horizon?
AEK Athens’s interest in David Datro Fofana is understandable. The Greek giants have been keen on reinforcing their offensive department in the summer transfer window. The out-of-favour Chelsea attacker has thus emerged as a viable target for AEK Athens, with the two clubs in talks to seal a deal.
However, the West London outfit rejected the opening proposal by AEK Athens, although the negotiations between the two parties have ramped up. The report has claimed that Chelsea will look to offload the 21-year-old before the summer transfer window shuts down in Greece.
Chelsea will unlikely recoup anything close to the €10 million they paid Molde FK to secure David Datro Fofana’s services in January 2023. Nevertheless, the Blues are open to receiving a small fee if they can convince AEK Athens to include add-ons, which can help them profit from their investment.
