Transfer Centre

Chelsea 'not considering David Datro Fofana loan exit'

By Darren Plant, Senior Reporter | 06 February 2023

Chelsea 'not considering Fofana loan exit'

Chelsea reportedly have no intention of allowing David Datro Fofana to go out on loan to a Turkish club for the remainder of the season.

Chelsea reportedly intend to keep David Datro Fofana in their first-team squad for the remainder of the season.

At the turn of the year, Fofana was one of the first new arrivals at the Blues, joining on a long-term contract from Molde.

Chelsea have since moved to sign several other fresh faces for the final third, including Noni Madueke, Mykhaylo Mudryk and Joao Felix.

As a result, two of the three - Mudryk and Felix - have been selected for the club's Champions League squad, resulting in Fofana being left out.

Chelsea head coach Graham Potter during EFL Cup defeat at Manchester City on November 9, 2022. © Reuters

Despite that decision, Graham Potter opted to hand the Ivorian a 16-minute run out versus Fulham in the Premier League on Friday evening.

Although the game ultimately ended goalless, Fofana produced a lively cameo performance and almost netted the winner, only being denied by a goalbound block.

With the 20-year-old being named in the squad ahead of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, it appears that Potter is ready to place trust in one of the fringe newcomers to the group.

Nevertheless, the potential lack of game time for Fofana has reportedly led to interest from Turkish giants Galatasaray, with the transfer window still open in that country.

Galatasaray coach Okan Buruk on February 5, 2023 © Reuters

However, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, the relevant parties have not been holding discussions regarding a potential transfer.

Romano adds that Galatasaray are more interested in securing a deal for Nicolo Zaniolo with the versatile attacker keen on departing Roma.

Okan Buruk's side currently hold a nine-point lead at the top of the Super Lig standings, an advantage which will stay in place this weekend after two earthquakes devastated southern parts of the country.

Monday's fixtures have already been postponed and Galatasaray's next match had been due to be played at Gaziantep FK, but that will almost certainly be rescheduled with the city close to the epicentre of the two natural disasters.