FC Nantes reportedly tried to sign Arsenal talent Folarin Balogun this summer before the striker’s move to Stade de Reims, where the England youth international is now enjoying a record-breaking loan spell with the Ligue 1 side.
According to L’Equipe, the Brittany giants made a move to sign the 21-year-old attacker on loan during the summer window, however, Reims eventually won the race for Balogun, where the Arsenal prospect has been nothing short of a revelation for Oscar Garcia’s side.
The striker has bagged five goals in six Ligue 1 matches, a record for a Reims player that currently puts Balogun joint-third in the French top-flight scoring charts for the season, just two goals behind PSG superstars Kylian Mbappe and Neymar.
Balogun is regarded by many as one of Arsenal’s most exciting youth prospects, with the attacker signing a long-term contract with the Gunners in 2020 that lasts until 2025, and the attacker’s form this season with Reims could indicate that there is a future to be had in north London for the youngster.
Indeed, the forward made just one start for Arsenal last season before being sent out on loan to Middlesbrough, where Balogun had mixed success with the Championship side, yet it is this year with Reims where the 21-year-old has really come into his own, much to the dismay of Nantes, who could had been the ones who signed the forward.
With the Coupe de France winners competing in Europe this season, Nantes could have been a more appealing option for Balogun, however, Reims’ youth development programme is one of the best in France, and the results early on in the campaign already show just how right Arsenal were to send their star prospect to the Champagne region.
Nantes will regret not signing Balogun massively already
Many Arsenal fans expected Balogun to flourish in France had he received plenty of starts and first-team minutes, yet even the biggest of supporters would not have predicted the striker to become a record-breaker and facing off against Neymar and Mbappe for the Ligue 1 Golden Boot, with Nantes now likely reeling from not signing the youngster.
After all, Nantes could have done with a striker this summer ahead of their UEFA Europa Conference League campaign, and Balogun could have been perfect given his incredible form for Reims this season, with the striker on course to break even more records this season.
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