Arsenal plan another transfer hijack? Gunners eye Everton target after gazumping Tottenham for Eberechi Eze

Mere hours after news broke that Arsenal were going to win the race to sign Crystal Palace star Eze, and not Tottenham, Mikel Arteta's team have been linked with Lyon winger Malick Fofana. According to L'Equipe, Everton attempted to sign the 20-year-old this summer but the Gunners and Bayern Munich are also keeping tabs on him.

Arsenal fans have been calling for the club to sign a new striker, and after recruiting Viktor Gyokeres, some attention has shifted to the left wing spot. Many are doubting Gabriel Martinelli's long-term suitability for that role but after spending more than £200 million ($269.5m) on players so far, with Eze set to cost an extra £68m ($91.5m), will the north London team splash that kind of cash again on €40m (£34.6m) rated Fofana?

The report adds that Everton bid €35 (£30m) for the Lyon talent but that was rejected and he himself was not keen on the move. That is because Fofana is only willing to leave for Champions League football, something Bayern and Arsenal can offer. 

It seems there could be some late moves for Fofana, who has scored 15 goals and added eight assists in 63 games for Lyon, in the summer transfer window.

L'Equipe adds: 'Things could accelerate in the final days of the transfer window, especially in the Premier League.'