Barcelona Eye Malick Fofana as Alternative to Rashford Deal

Barcelona are monitoring Lyon winger Malick Fofana as a potential alternative to Marcus Rashford, whose €30 million loan buyout may be unaffordable. Fofana, 20, has 2 goals and 1 assist in 12 games this season, while Rashford boasts 6 goals and 7 assists in 16 matches, averaging a goal contribution every 87 minutes.

Doing the rounds in Barcelona’s transfer discussions is the future of Marcus Rashford, whose loan move from Manchester United has been impressive but may prove too expensive to make permanent. The Catalan club would need to trigger a €30 million clause to keep the England forward, who has contributed six goals and seven assists in 16 matches, averaging a goal or assist every 87 minutes and leading La Liga in assists this season.

With finances tight, Barcelona are reportedly exploring alternatives, including Lyon’s Belgian winger Malick Fofana. The 20-year-old, admired for his dribbling and pace, was previously pursued by Chelsea and Liverpool but chose to stay at Lyon to gain more experience. Despite an ankle injury that has sidelined him for months, Fofana remains a target due to Lyon’s financial struggles, which could make him available at a lower price.

Before his injury, he had scored twice and assisted once in 12 appearances, with an xG of 0.33 and xA of 0.27 per 90 minutes. However, Rashford’s greater end product and consistency underline why he is the more proven option, while Fofana represents a talented but riskier investment for Barcelona as they weigh cost against performance.