With Reims as with the American selection, Folarin Balogun has exceeded expectations this season. What makes him a starter at Arsenal? No, but the Gunners have no intention of selling him off.
Despite his 21 years, Folarin Balogun adapts very quickly and easily to his new surroundings. For his loan season at Reims, the striker scored 21 goals in Ligue 1. Having become an American international in June, he only waited for the second match to find the net. It’s hard not to see such talent and such a profile in a club with a European dimension. It could be at Arsenal, the club that currently owns him. However, the Gunners don’t seem to be counting on him. They already have Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah while Kai Havertz is expected in the coming days. Any benefit for the interested clubs and there are many of them in Europe.
Balogun is 40 million euros
Among these, we find the RB Leipzig which is undoubtedly the most active in the file. There are also the two Milanese clubs and the English formation of Crystal Palace. Provided competition that forces Arsenal to set the bar high financially. As The Sun reveals, Arsenal are asking for at least €40m minimum for their American centre-forward. A sum probably too high for Palace but within reach of the other three.
21-year-old Folarin Balogun.
The USMNT’s new No. 9 has arrived 🙌 pic.twitter.com/WOPOIDzV1E
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) June 19, 2023
Leipzig in particular hesitates between Balogun and Lois Openda in the transfer window. Arsenal’s proposal is more tempting than the 50 million euros demanded by the Lensois for their Belgian striker. To see what the German club will do, always meticulous when it comes to releasing money in the transfer window. We won’t have to drag because AC Milan and Inter are on the prowl. The Rossoneri need a striker to accompany Olivier Giroud, they who saw Zlatan Ibrahimovic stop his career. Inter, meanwhile, let Edin Dzeko slip away at Fenerbahçe and don’t know what will happen to Romelu Lukaku under contract at Chelsea. One thing is certain, the big winner of the operation will be Arsenal who will value a replacement with only 10 career games at the Gunners.
