Crystal Palace have made contact to sign AC Milan midfielder Youssouf Fofana, who is also attracting interest from Premier League rivals. Nottingham Forest.
Lauded for his “tremendous quality” by World Cup-winning former France manager Didier Deschamps, the Frenchman is experienced at international level, having collected 25 caps since making his debut in a 2-0 victory against Austria back in September 2022.
At club level, Fofana has remained a regular member of AC Milan’s starting XI over the past two seasons, featuring 68 times in the Serie A, during which time he’s managed to chip in with three goals and nine assists.
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Which club should Youssouf Fofana sign for? |
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Crystal Palace |
After winning the Europa Conference League last season, signing for Crystal Palace is likely to be of great appeal, ahead of a Europa League campaign. However, Sage is already pretty well-stocked in the middle of the park, with the likes of Adam Wharton, Will Hughes, Daichi Kamada and Jefferson Lerma to choose from, which means game time could be difficult to come by. |
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Nottingham Forest |
European football isn’t on offer at the City Ground, but being a part of the Glasner project could be an attractive proposition, considering he was the manager who led Palace to FA Cup and Europa Conference League glory. Not only that, but there is a gaping hole in Forest’s midfield following Anderson’s departure, which means Fofana could slot right in. |
However, the 27-year-old is also proficient from a defensive point of view, averaging 2.0 tackles per 90 during the 2024-25 Serie A campaign, while an average of 5.4 recoveries per 90 was the second-highest in the Milan squad.
As such, it is perhaps no surprise Nottingham Forest are interested in signing the central midfielder, after losing Elliot Anderson, and it has been widely reported that the Tricky Trees have already offered him a contract.
Crystal Palace battling Nottingham Forest for Youssouf Fofana
Crystal Palace could pose Oliver Glasner’s side a problem though, with a report from Gazzetta dello Sport (via Sport Witness) revealing they have now stormed into the race to sign Fofana, and contact has been made.
AC Milan are prepared to offload the 25-cap France international this summer, after manager Ruben Amorim left him out of the squad for a recent friendly against Chelsea, and the Italian side are holding out for just €15m (£13m), which means he could be a low-cost addition for Palace.
The Milan midfielder has removed every reference to his current club from his Instagram profile, which suggests he has his sights firmly set on a move elsewhere, and a move to the City Ground or Selhurst Park could certainly appeal.
Fofana isn’t the only midfielder of interest to Palace though, as they have recently submitted an offer for Monaco star Lamine Camara, but again there could be competition for his signature from Forest.
