Arsenal Identify RC Lens' Seko Fofana As A Midfield Summer Target

Arsenal have identified RC Lens midfielder Seko Fofana as a potential summer signing, according to a report from France.

French outlet L'Equipe claim that Arsenal would like to sign Seko Fofana this summer, though they face strong competition.

Newcastle United are one of the Premier League clubs linked with a move, amid their rejuvenated financial situation.

That's if Fofana is even willing to leave France, with L'Equipe reporting that he'd prefer to stay in Ligue 1.

RC Lens are looking for at least £26m to agree to a sale.

Paris Saint-Germain have made contact with Lens over a move, so you'd have to consider them the favourites.

PSG have the spending power to outbid the competition and they play their football in a league where Fofana is already comfortable.

The Ligue 1 side are also the only one of the three who can offer Champions League football.

Lens finished seventh in Ligue 1 last season, missing out on European competition altogether.

Arsenal at least have the Europa League to offer, which is more than Newcastle and Lens.

But the other reason to be dubious about this deal is that Arsenal are already investing heavily elsewhere in the team.

The Gunners have completed a deal for Fabio Vieira, they've reportedly agreed a fee for Gabriel Jesus, and they're set to pursue moves for Raphinha and Lisandro Martinez as well.

All of that business has already seen a move for Leicester City midfielder Youri Tielemans go on the backburner.

Various reports suggest the Arsenal hierarchy are keen on Tielemans, but he's not a priority right now.

If Fofana is going to cost £26m or more, he may even end up being more expensive than Tielemans - who is rumoured to be available for £25m.

Add that to the fact that Fofana is older, at 27, and unproven in the English top tier, and Tielemans seems like the superior option.

Then again, Fofana has been in excellent form with Lens this campaign.

The midfielder scored 10 goals in all competitions, and he made the UNFP Ligue 1 Team of the Year for 2021/22.

There's a reason PSG are reportedly looking to bring the Ivory Coast international in. It's just not clear whether Arsenal are ready to make that kind of investment in Fofana right now.