Arsenal transfer news: Why Gunners pulled plug on Malick Fofana transfer as Sunderland agree deal

Arsenal person reportedly missed retired connected signing Lyon attacker Malick Fofana during the summertime transportation window.

The Gunners were reportedly considering a precocious determination for the 21-year-old, who had been connected their radar and held talks with Mikel Arteta.

However, Sunderland person been heavy funny successful securing his signature and person yet reached an statement connected deadline day.

The Black Cats volition reportedly wage astir €30m (£25.68m) positive add-ons for Fofana, who has been fixed support to acquisition a medical.

Fofana is expected to motion a five-year declaration successful the North East, with the enactment of a further 12 months, though Sunderland indispensable implicit the paperwork earlier Tuesday's deadline.

Why Arsenal pulled the plug connected Malick Fofana deal

The Premier League champions person already signed Club Brugge attacker Christos Tzolis, who arrived arsenic a replacement for Leandro Trossard.

The Gunners felt the request to adhd different attacker aft sanctioning the departures of Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus, who are some expected to implicit moves to Al Hilal and Barcelona respectively.

Fofana had been tracked by Arsenal for immoderate time, truthful it came arsenic small astonishment that they identified him arsenic a imaginable replacement for Martinelli.

According to The Standard, Fofana was understood to beryllium keen connected making the move, but Lyon's asking terms of astir £30m-£35m was much than Arsenal were consenting to pay.

Will Arsenal beryllium blessed with their signings this summer?

The Gunners grabbed the headlines erstwhile they signed Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle United successful a big-money deal.

Mikel Arteta besides strengthened the defence with the signing of experienced Premier League defender Ezri Konsa from Aston Villa.

However, Arsenal fans could beryllium disappointed by their reported nonaccomplishment to lure Vinicius Junior distant from Real Madrid, peculiarly erstwhile it appeared astatine 1 signifier that the Brazilian could permission the Bernabeu without signing a caller contract.

Likewise, the Gunners were incapable to person Julian Alvarez to permission Atletico Madrid and cull involvement from Barcelona successful favour of a determination to the Premier League, a woody that could person added different magnitude to Arteta's attack.