Yaossouf Fofana: the pleasant, unexpected Liga surprise

Sevilla FC

It was a real bombshell. Not only because of when it happened - practically at the last minute - but because, a priori, he was a player who seemed far from the real ambitions of the Sevilla FC. What is more, it was a lightning-fast deal. In some media, it was even said that he was in talks with the Real Betis and that other clubs were keeping a very close eye on the player's situation. That was confirmed by the Seville coach himself. The two Andalusian capital clubs went all out to land the Frenchman, and Fofana opted for Sevilla. It would have been a major boost for Pellegrini, but it has ended up being one for García Plaza. A "victory" over the eternal rivals, the kind that are worth double. In the player's words, his choice matched the desire to bring the Sevilla back to the top. 

"I think it was the best option for me. I thought about the club's history, about what was happening at this moment, and I wanted to be part of Sevilla's rebirth"

A star-studded arrival

49

Fofana
6.470.000€+170.000€9

J10

2

J9

12

J8

13

J7

4

J6

MD

31

The Seville coach also told Partidazo de COPE that one of the clubs interested was Olympique de Lyon. "Les lions" were close to finalizing the signing of the 27-year-old midfielder, and it was around 22:30 on the last day of the transfer window - which closed at 00:00 - and due to a problem with registration times, that is what prevented it. After that, Youssouf was offered to different big clubs, among them, logically, the Sevilla FC. The Andalusians went all in: whatever salary room there was, whether much or little, was used to make the move. The rest is history. 

The French-Malian chose Seville to reassert himself after a campaign of ups and downs as a Milan player. In the ranks of the Italian side, he gradually lost prominence and ended up on the list of players to be released after finishing his second season there. Here, he is a living example of what it means to "fall on your feet". Out of 7 possible matches, he has played in all of them. He made his debut as a goalscorer against the FC Barcelona and has three assists to his name. In him, the people of Seville have found a complete pivot; very good in transitions and one-on-one duels, with impeccable control and stride, and with an enormous physical presence. Without forgetting his ability to create danger and get into the opposing area. 

52

Agoumé
2.570.000€-30.000€8

J10

4

J9

2

J8

4

J7

6

J6

MD

00

24

Giorgi Kochorashvili
1.830.000€-30.000€-

J10

-

J9

5

J8

3

J7

3

J6

MD

10

All of his qualities fit perfectly with those of his compatriot, Lucien Agoumé. Together, they have given the Sevilla a clear identity in their play and form one of the most solid midfields in the League. It is no coincidence that the Frenchman is putting together a start to the season that far surpasses what was seen earlier. Aside from his obvious qualitative leap, they fit together perfectly and make each other better. By seniority, Agoumé is the undisputed leader in midfield. Fofana, the ideal partner. Along with Kochorashvili, the Andalusian team has a midfield for the long haul and with ambitions to go far. In fact, Europe seems closer than ever.

Like clockwork: a win for Fantasy

His football has made him a very juicy asset. In Comunio, Fofana is one of the players "in form" and his value is the highest of the entire Seville squad- 6.300000€ -. In Biwenger, he is priced at 6.780.000€, with a forecast of an increase between 70000€  and 100000€  per day. He is also the one who accumulates the most points -49-, tied with the academy player Miguel Sierra. In Fantasy terms, it is a unique market opportunity. His performances suggest his price will rise, and it is a completely safe investment. 

The "Vlachodimos formula" comes to the fore

47

Vlachodimos
2.120.000€+50.000€4

J10

-1

J9

7

J8

2

J7

11

J6

PT

03

Several Seville outlets such as Estadio Deportivo or Muchodeporte have pointed out in recent days that José Ignacio Navarro is already working so that the midfielder's stay at Nervión is, at the very least, for one more season. This is where the aforementioned formula comes into play. The Greek goalkeeper found his place in Spain and in the League. To stay at Sevilla , the solution involved a second loan in which the magpies would pay a large part of his wages. Given this, convincing the parent club - Newcastle -, the goalkeeper's willingness was key. If the Sevilla FC tries again with Fofana- whose wages are close to 9 million euros-, their conviction and subsequent mediation between the two clubs seem essential.

The path taken so far appears to be the right one to achieve it, but there is still a long way to go. The player has the affection and admiration of his new supporters, he knows that for now he has no competition, and most importantly, that if it were up to the Andalusian club, the deal would already be more than done.