Sky Sports journalist Dharmesh Sheth has claimed that Chelsea have a real interest in Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun.
The American does not have a future at the Emirates despite his excellent loan spell last season. He is expected to be sold in the next two weeks, and Chelsea have suddenly emerged as contenders for his signature.
Sky Sports journalist says Chelsea want to sign Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun
Folarin Balogun has been at Arsenal since he was a kid.
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The striker came through the ranks at Hale End and was always incredibly prolific. Everyone knew he was a fantastic talent, and he proved himself at senior level last season.
In a spell away on loan at Stade Reims, Balogun scored 22 goals in all competitions. He was among the best players in Ligue 1, and he’s now a wanted man.
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Inter Milan were keen to sign him for a long time, while Monaco’s interest in him remains to this day. The French club have even had a bid rejected already.
Now, Monaco could face competition from one of the wealthiest sides in world football – Todd Boehly’s Chelsea.
Sheth said live on Sky Sports: “Monaco remain in talks with Arsenal over the signing of Balogun. The French club are expected to go back in with an improved offer after having one bid rejected already.
“Just one development while we are on air, on Balogun, and this is from one source only before we go, and it says Chelsea have an interest in Folarin Balogun. No bid made, but interest is real.”
The Insider’s View:
Folarin Balogun is valued at £50 million by Arsenal, and we really think that’s a fair price for a prolific 21-year-old striker with ‘frightening‘ potential.
Chelsea have already spent way more than that on similarly-proven players like Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia this summer.
The best thing for Arsenal now would be to sell him to a foreign club and insert a buy-back clause in the deal, just to have that option of bringing him back in a few years’ time.
We don’t think Chelsea would be willing to accept that, so if we are to sell him to the Blues, Edu must look to secure as much money as possible, perhaps even more than £50 million considering how desperate they are for a new striker.