Folarin Balogun’s fantastic form last season has generated huge interest in the young Arsenal striker.
According to the Daily Mail, five clubs are currently in the hunt to sign Folarin Balogun. The 22-year-old spent last season on loan at Reims, and bagged 21 goals in the French top flight. Now AC Milan, Inter Milan, RB Leipzig, Monaco, and Marseille are all vying to secure his services on a permanent basis.
This is an ideal scenario for the Gunners, who are under no real financial pressure to sell the New York-born forward. Mikel Arteta and Edu will be hoping that all this interest manifests itself as a bidding war that serves to drive Balogun’s price up and up.
Balogun is certainly open to leaving the Emirates Stadium this summer. He is desperate to continue being a regular starter following his experience with Reims. Arteta is unlikely to be able to guarantee the USA international the game time he wants, especially with Gabriel Jesus, Eddie Nketiah, and Leandro Trossard already at the club.
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Should Arsenal sell Balogun?
Arteta certainly appreciates Balogun’s talents. Speaking about the player’s exploits in France, the Spanish coach said, “when you look at the numbers and what he is doing, it’s just incredible. It’s very rare to see that. But he’s got something special,” as quoted by the club’s official website.
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However, competition for places is high in North London. There is also no guarantee that Balogun would be able to replicate his Ligue 1 form in the Premier League. Meanwhile, Jesus, Nketiah, and Trossard have already shown that they can score regularly at the highest level of English football. What’s more, the long-term contract and famous No. 14 shirt that was handed to Nketiah last summer seemed to cement his place in the pecking order above Balogun.
With interest in Balogun so high, now would be a great time for Arsenal to cash in. However, they should be careful to protect themselves with a buy back clause or first refusal option in any deal they strike to sell the youngster.