Arsenal’s fortunes seem to be improving under the guidance of Mikel Arteta, but there’s a cloud of uncertainty hovering over striker Folarin Balogun, who appears ready to seek new opportunities elsewhere to advance his career.
Following an impressive 5-3 victory against Barcelona at SoFi Stadium, Arsenal fans have reasons to be optimistic. Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz, Leandro Trossard (2), and Fabio Vieira all contributed to the victory, bolstering Arteta’s side.
However, there were notable absences from the squad, including Oleksandr Zinchenko, who’s struggling with a calf problem, and Declan Rice, who sustained a training injury ahead of the match. Folarin Balogun was also missing, training separately from the rest of the squad due to a foot injury.
In a post-match interview, Arteta confirmed Balogun’s unavailability, stating,
“He has a little foot injury and hasn’t been training with us.”
Amidst ongoing speculation about Balogun’s future with the club. Arteta didn’t offer a definitive answer when asked if the young striker is part of his plans for the upcoming season. He responded,
“We will see. First of all, he needs to be fit and play minutes.”
Balogun showcased his talent during a loan spell at French club Reims last season, impressively netting 22 goals across all competitions. However, at Arsenal, he faces tough competition for a spot in the starting lineup. With players like Gabriel Jesus, Eddie Nketiah, and Leandro Trossard ahead of him.
Interest from Inter Milan for Balogun
Recent reports from Italy suggest that Inter Milan has made a move for Balogun, submitting a £30m offer, which Arsenal swiftly rejected. According to Italian outlet Sport Mediaset, Inter’s proposal involved an initial £25m fee for Balogun, with an additional £5m in potential add-ons. Arsenal, however, is seeking a fee of up to £50m for the promising young talent. He, who is also a United States international.
Nonetheless, earlier this month, Balogun expressed a composed outlook on his future, stating,
“I obviously went away, and the point was to prove I could play first team football. And I feel I was able to do that and show people I can play at that level. I think with me coming back, it’s not really much of a situation where I think I can need to try extra hard to prove something. However, I think it’s a decision that’s not really with me. Whatever happens, I’m cool with it.”
As the transfer saga unfolds, Arsenal and Balogun’s camp will need to find common ground. And fans will eagerly await the resolution of this situation. The young striker’s potential departure could pave the way for exciting new signings or internal promotions within the club.
