Mikel Arteta has shared that Folarin Balogun has made it clear to him that he is ‘determined to stay’ at Arsenal, as he told his press conference.
The highly-rated 19-year-old is out of contract at Arsenal in the summer, which has sparked rumours about whether he will be at the club next season.
Balogun’s lack of game time and involvement in Arsenal’s squad during this campaign doesn’t help aide talks about whether he will be here in six months time or not.
But Arteta was upbeat about the striker staying on and penning a new deal, which is in the hands of their technical director, Edu.
“I am pretty positive (about his future),” said Arteta. “Every time I spoke to him, he mentions that he’s determined to stay.
“We had some really positive conversations with his agent as well and Edu is in charge of that. He’s been spending a lot of time and energy to make that deal happen.”
Whilst Arteta is pretty positive that Balogun will commit his future to Arsenal, the Daily Mirror have previously reported that the teenager is set to leave at the end of the season.
It said that unless there was a dramatic change of heart from the player then he will be heading towards the North London exit door.
Arsenal have had a number of their academy graduates produce the goods this season, no more than Bukayo Saka, so it’s perhaps difficult for his teammate to see him getting the chances and thriving, whilst he has to watch from afar.
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