Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun finally looks close to securing a transfer away after months of speculation, with the club on the verge of agreeing a fee.
According to Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth, Arsenal and AS Monaco are close to agreeing a fee for the 22-year-old, with Balogun open to the move.
Personal terms have been agreed in principle, and a fee is close to being agreed for the striker, who has been linked with a number of clubs over the course of the summer transfer window after he returned from a very successful loan spell at Stade De Reims last season.
“Monaco close to verbal agreement on fee with Arsenal for striker Folarin Balogun. Formal offer to follow ahead of discussing payment terms,” Sheth tweeted.
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“”Personal terms agreed in principle. Balogun impressed in Ligue Un on loan with Reims last season. 21 goals in 34 starts.”
The right sale
London rivals Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur both expressed their interest in the forward in recent weeks, and whilst Arsenal may have been able to charge either of these sides a premium fee, selling a talent like Balogun to a rival will have been a risky move.
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Although there is no room for Balogun at Arsenal now, with Gabriel Jesus, Eddie Nketiah, Leandro Trossard and Kai Havertz all ahead in the pecking order, the risk of him potentially flourishing at, and therefore strengthening some of the club’s biggest rivals is too high to ignore.
Letting him go to Monaco could mean that Arsenal insist on a sell-on, or even a buyback clause as part of the agreement, and given his success last season, Balogun may perform well in France again.
If Arsenal can secure a club-record sale fee for a player who has hardly featured for them, then it will represent excellent business from the club.