Olympique Lyonnais have reportedly reached an agreement with Crystal Palace over the transfer of Malick Fofana (21), according to L'Equipe.

The Belgian winger had travelled to England to complete a move to Sunderland AFC after OL and the Black Cats agreed terms on a deal worth €35m including bonuses. However, he is now expected to move to south London instead. This late change is said to have been driven largely by a telephone conversation earlier today between Fofana and Eagles manager Pierre Sage, under whom he previously played in the Rhone region.

Lyon, who had been hoping to bring in €40m from the sale of their emerging star, are now set to get much closer to that valuation, with the Selhurst Park club putting forward a package worth €39m, although some details are still to be sorted out.

Even so, caution remains necessary, as the situation could still shift again in the coming hours, with Sunderland and Arsenal yet to determine whether they will pull out of the race to sign the 21-year-old completely.