In need of offensive assets, RC Lens and AS Monaco would have targeted the same striker.
The vice-champion of France Lensois lost big this summer with the transfers of Seko Fofana and Loïs Openda. The latter has not yet been replaced, so the Sang et Or are looking to complete the arrival of a top striker by the end of the transfer window, August 31. Same imperative for Monegasques who have just lost their Swiss striker Breel Embolo for several months, victim of a rupture of the cruciate ligaments.
The two clubs in question to strengthen would have targeted the same profile: that of Folarin Balogun, who last season exploded in the ranks of the Stade de Reims. On loan from Arsenal, the 22-year-old American striker scored 21 goals in Ligue 1 last season – as many as Loïs Openda. Only Kylian Mbappé (29), Alexandre Lacazette (27) and Jonathan David (24) had done better.
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According to The Athletic, ASM has taken the lead in the matter, making a concrete offer that has already been rejected by the Gunners. Particularly greedy Londoners who would demand no less than 40 million euros for the native of New York, valued at 30 million euros on the specialized site Transfermarkt. Another difficulty for Lens and Monaco: the main interested party would be more seduced by the advances of Inter, who after having poached Marcus Thuram seeks to expand an orphan workforce of Romelu Lukaku and Edin Dzeko.
