OGC Nice are interested in signing Chelsea outcast David Datro Fofana after selling Evann Guessand to Aston Villa, according to French media.
The Villans announced the signing of the Ivory Coast international on Friday after managing to beat a host of suitors to his signature. Guessand commanded a sizeable €30 million fee and penned a long-term contract, becoming Aston Villa’s third signing of the summer.
The versatile forward is coming off a brilliant season with Nice, which saw him score 13 goals and provide 10 assists across all competitions. Guessand is a big loss for the Ligue 1 side, and they are now in the market for a replacement.
According to L’Equipe, Nice are once again keen on forgotten Chelsea man David Datro Fofana. The INEOS-backed side hold a long-standing interest in the Ivorian and believe that a deal can be struck this summer.
Given his lack of action for Chelsea, the Blues are keen to sell him, but Nice would prefer an initial loan with a purchase option. Fofana has had several unimpressive loan spells since his move to Stamford Bridge, so Le Gym want to get a good look at him before they buy.
Fofana set for Ligue 1 switch?
Fofana is coming off a short-lived stint with Turkish side Goztepe. He made just nine appearances before a long-term knee injury sidelined him for the remainder of the campaign.
The year before, he had two spells away from Chelsea, first at Union Berlin, where he fell out with then-coach Urs Fischer and later at Burnley, where he scored four Premier League goals in 15 appearances.
His move to Chelsea has proved to be a massive mistake and has severely hamstrung a career that looked so promising at Molde in Norway. The 22-year-old could now be on his way to France.
Nice would be prepared to pay a share of Fofana’s salary, but it seems doubtful that Chelsea would sanction another temporary deal given the limited number of international loan spots available. He clearly has no future in West London, so why waste a valuable slot on him?
Toulouse also explored a move for Fofana earlier this summer, but nothing ultimately came of it as the player’s wage demands proved insurmountable. Chelsea value Fofana at around €5 million.
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