Arsenal have already received a number of enquiries from clubs looking into signing striker Folarin Balogun on loan during the January transfer window, according to football.london.
The forward wants to leave the Emirates Stadium in the New Year to prove himself to head coach Mikel Arteta. He has only featured three times under the Spaniard so far this season, with 70-minutes over two Premier League games and seven-minutes in one EFL Cup tie.
Arteta handed Balogun his only league action of the campaign to date during Arsenal’s first two fixtures. The Gunners product has since failed to make any of their matchday squads.
Balogun has naturally found the veteran pair of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette are ahead in Arteta’s pecking order. But Eddie Nketiah has also edged in front, with the 22-year-old on the bench twice in their last three games.
Nketiah’s inclusion comes despite Arsenal being open to offers for the England U21 striker after he rejected a new contract, with the forward’s existing deal expiring next summer.
So, Balogun hopes a loan transfer away from Arsenal in January will allow him to showcase his potential more regularly. Potential suitors have also inundated the Gunners’ with calls to sound out their chances of agreeing a temporary deal.
Middlesbrough, Millwall and Swansea City have been on the phone to present Arsenal with a path for Balogun to play Championship football for the remainder of the season. Saint-Etienne have also been in touch with the north Londoners to offer an experience in Ligue 1.
Championship loan transfer most likely for Arsenal prospect Balogun
Balogun will certainly have his choice of suitors, but Arsenal must pick his loan destination wisely for a January transfer. They will not want him to spend the remainder of the season on the fringes at a second-tier side, for instance, if regular top-flight action is also available.
But a move to the Championship is looking most likely, with The Sun touting Chris Wilder’s Middlesbrough as favourites. Yet promotion-hopefuls Bournemouth have also scouted him.
Boro need a goal threat, with the Riverside outfit only 12th in the table and eight-points from the play-off spots. They have also scored just 23 goals in 20 games played so far.
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