Arsenal are now planning talks with Folarin Balogun over his future at Emirates Stadium in the summer. The striker has enjoyed an extremely successful loan spell at Stade de Reims.
That is according to the Daily Mail, which reports Arsenal want to speak with Balogun over his future. The 21-year-old’s progress in Ligue 1 so far this season has pleased Mikel Arteta and the Gunners staff. But clubs in Europe are also now starting to show an interest in him.
Balogun has now overtaken Kylian Mbappe to become the top goalscorer in Ligue 1 so far this season. He has hit home 14 goals in 20 appearances, of which the forward has started in 17. Mbappe ranks second in France’s top-flight with 13 over the five players on 12 goals.
Three goals in just 20 minutes to secure Reims a 4-2 win against FC Lorient on Wednesday night lifted Balogun to the top of the scoring charts. He also secured William Still’s squad a 1-1 draw away to Paris Saint-Germain last Sunday. The striker replied after Neymar’s goal.
Only Erling Haaland (25) and Harry Kane (16) have now scored more goals than Balogun in Europe’s top-five leagues this season. The Gunners product has laid on two assists over his 20 Ligue 1 matches, as well. He also scored once in his only Coupe de France outing so far.
Arsenal are planning talks with Balogun after his Stade de Reims loan success
Balogun’s development on loan with Stade de Reims so far this term pleases Arsenal. Now, Arteta and sporting director Edu plan to speak with the striker this summer over his future at the Emirates. They are keen to schedule talks with vultures also circling in view of a transfer.
Arsenal have Balogun under contract through to June 2025 after he penned a fresh deal in April 2021. But he only put pen to paper two months before his previous terms were set to expire. The England Under-21 talent is also likely to be third in Arteta’s next pecking order.
Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah are expected to be ahead of Balogun in Arteta’s squad for the 2023/24 season. So, Arsenal want to sit down and discuss all possibilities with Balogun once he returns to north London from a prolific loan spell with Stade de Reims this summer.
Reims coach Still was full of praise for Balogun after the striker scored in Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Paris Saint-Germain. The Gunners gem struck home in the sixth minute of stoppage time to rescue a point. He ran through PSG’s centre-backs and rounded Gianluigi Donnarumma.
“He is a super complete striker,” Still told the Daily Mail. “He is able to play with his back to goal, in depth. It is technically very clean. He scores [and] he is decisive.”
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
