LONDON: Burnley signed Chelsea’s Ivory Coast forward David Datro Fofana on loan until the end of the season on Saturday.
Fofana is Burnley’s first signing of the January window as the Clarets battle to avoid relegation from the Premier League.
The 21-year-old was in the stands at Turf Moor on Friday to watch Burnley’s 1-1 draw against fellow strugglers Luton.
Fofana spent the first half of the season on loan at Bundesliga side Union Berlin, scoring two goals in 17 games.
He caught the eye of Chelsea after netting 24 times in 65 appearances for Norwegian side Molde but has yet to make an impact at Stamford Bridge.
Burnley are looking to improve an attack which has managed only 21 goals this term, second lowest in the Premier League ahead of only Sheffield United.
Burnley boss Vincent Kompany hardly sounded confident that Fofana will help solve that problem.
“I would love to be able to only present players with proven numbers but it’s not the market we’re in at all,” he said.
“To go and find someone who will out-perform consistently Lyle Foster and Zeki Amdouni I don’t think is realistic but we have to strengthen the unit.
“He does have speed, he does have the ability to link up play and he does have talent. He’s scored a lot of goals, maybe not in Germany but at his previous clubs, and he can help us.
“But if you’re expecting someone to come in who scored 25 goals in the Bundesliga recently it’s not in the realm of possibility.”
Fofana added: “I have seen a couple of games already and I think this is the right place for me to make the next steps.
“I have known about Burnley for a long time, they have been in the Premier League before this season and the champions (of the Championship) last year and I’m now looking forward to now being a part of this team.”
Burnley sign Chelsea’s Fofana on loan
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Burnley sign Chelsea’s Fofana on loan
- Fofana is Burnley’s first signing of the January window as the Clarets battle to avoid relegation
- He spent the first half of the season on loan at Bundesliga side Union Berlin
Lens cruise into French Cup quarters, Endrick sends Lyon through
- Goals by Florian Sotoca and Andrija Bulatovic, as well as a Abdallah Sima brace, saw surprise Ligue 1 title contenders Lens through their last-16 tie
PARIS, France: Lens reached the quarter-finals of the French Cup on Wednesday courtesy of a 4-2 win over Troyes, while an Endrick-inspired Lyon fought past second-division Laval.
Goals by Florian Sotoca and Andrija Bulatovic, as well as a Abdallah Sima brace, saw surprise Ligue 1 title contenders Lens through their last-16 tie.
Martin Adeline had levelled before half-time for second flight leaders Troyes before three goals in eight minutes early in the second period put Pierre Sage’s side firmly in charge.
At home to Ligue 2 strugglers Laval, Lyon struggled to break down their opponents until a moment of individual excellence by Real Madrid loanee Endrick.
Following a surging run from midfielder Pavel Sulc, the 19-year-old Brazilian burst through a challenge before unleashing a rasping drive from the edge of the box to open the scoring in the 80th minute.
It was Endrick’s fifth goal in as many outings for Lyon since arriving from the Santiago Bernabeu in late December.
“It’s really important to have scored my first goal on our home turf. This start at Lyon is truly a dream come true,” the forward said.
Lyon wrapped up their 11th consecutive victory in all competitions when Laval ‘keeper Maxime Hautbois inadvertently turned Afonso Moreira’s effort into his own net late in added time.
Struggling Nice pulled off a remarkable comeback in their last-16 tie against Montpellier to win 3-2.
The hosts found themselves trailing 2-0 midway through the second half before Kail Boudache halved the deficit with 18 minutes remaining on the clock.
Antoine Mendy netted on 89 minutes and looked to have forced extra-time, until Sofiane Diop shaped a fine curling effort beyond Montpellier goalkeeper Mathieu Michel seven minutes into injury time.
Lorient saw off fellow Ligue 1 outfit Paris FC with a 2-0 win thanks to a second-half goal by Noah Cadiou and a late Moustapha Mbow own goal.
Toulouse beat Ligue 2 Amiens 1-0 with Yann Gboho netting the winner six minutes before the interval.
