ARSENAL has set a staggering £50 million price tag on striker Folarin Balogun, but despite his impressive goal-scoring record in France, the Gunners are prepared to part ways with the former England under-21 player. Balogun recently featured in Arsenal’s first pre-season match against FC Nurnberg.
Inter Milan is now leading the pack of potential suitors for the 22-year-old forward, having withdrawn from the race to sign Chelsea’s Romelu Lukaku. The Serie A club is ready to submit a bid of around £34 million for Balogun, but Arsenal is holding out for at least £50 million.
Born in Brooklyn, Balogun had an impressive loan spell at Ligue 1 side Reims last season, scoring 22 goals. He later switched his allegiance to play for the United States, making his debut for the national team last month. Balogun seems to be coming to terms with the possibility of leaving Arsenal, stating that his objective during his loan was to prove his capability in first-team football, which he believes he achieved.
Balogun’s presence in the United States with the rest of the Arsenal team allows manager Mikel Arteta to assess his squad ahead of the upcoming campaign. His successful stint in Ligue 1 positions him well to compete against players like Eddie Nketiah and Gabriel Jesus for a starting spot.
With two years left on his Arsenal contract, Balogun expresses his desire for regular playing time. However, if he remains at the Emirates Stadium, challenging Gabriel Jesus for a starting role could be a formidable task. Hence, Arsenal’s potential sale of Balogun to Inter could be a strategy to satisfy all parties involved.
Arsenal remains open to a sale, especially considering their already significant summer spending, with up to £210 million allocated, subject to meeting add-on conditions. Balogun’s transfer to Inter Milan could become a reality if the right offer is made, ultimately allowing both the player and the club to move forward positively.
