£34m Arsenal & Newcastle target teases his future amid transfer bombshell

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Seko Fofana has opened up on his eagerness to remain with RC Lens this summer following a report that the rumoured Arsenal and Newcastle United target wanted to stay with the Ligue 1 side.

Speaking to L’Equipe, the 27-year-old midfielder elaborated on recent reports that he was happy to stay with Lens this summer despite huge interest from the likes of Arsenal, Newcastle and French champions PSG, with Fofana set to remain with the Ligue 1 side this summer.

Fofana has been one of the best midfielders in France in the past two seasons and has been a large reason for Lens’ incredible success in the top flight since their return in 2020, with the Ligue 1 minnows defying the odds of what they should be achieving at every possible chance.

Indeed, Lens are set to lose Cheick Doucoure to Crystal Palace next week, yet this move has seemingly inspired Fofana to remain in France despite interest from the likes of Arsenal and Newcastle, with the midfielder valued at a reported €40m (£34m).

Despite a huge transfer fee and interest from the Premier League, Fofana looks to remain loyal to Lens this summer, and the midfielder explained why it is likely that he will stay in France for the upcoming season despite the pending departure of his partner in crime Doucoure.

Fofana said: “I’m at Lens, I’m very happy to be here, to be able to train, to progress, after that, anything is possible. We are in the transfer window period, there’s a lot for reflection. One day you’re staying, the next you’re going to leave. You don’t really know. I’m very calm about that.

Fofana wanting Lens stay is a big blow for Arsenal and Newcastle

Arsenal and Newcastle both want to sign midfielders this summer, and Fofana would have been a perfect player for either Premier League side, yet the 27-year-old’s desire to want and stay with Lens is commendable and something we rarely see in football.

Indeed, loyalty is hard to come by in a game that is now so washed with money and power, and Fofana wanting to stay with Lens even for an extra year at the peak of his fascinating career is both a big blow for Arsenal and Newcastle and something many football fans will respect.