Folarin Balogun’s form at Reims in France has presented Arsenal with a huge new dilemma as the Gunners prepare for next season.
The striker was sent on loan to the French club so he could gain more first-team experience, but he has exploded to life at the Ligue 1 side.
This means the Gunners now have to deal with his future when he returns at the end of the campaign.
The USMNT striker will not want to sit on the bench at the Emirates and the Gunners know they cannot force him to stay without first-team football.
Several clubs have an interest in his future, including AC Milan, who are gathering some of the finest young talents around Europe.
A report on Calciomercato reveals Mikel Arteta’s side is open to cashing in on him when the transfer window reopens.
Just Arsenal Opinion
Unless we have space to play Balogun regularly, we have no reason to keep him at the club.
This is our best chance to make some good money from his departure if we are sure he will not be a leading striker for our team in the next campaign.
If he does well in pre-season, we could offload Eddie Nketiah instead and keep the New York-born star.
Video – Alfie and Rob are back for the summer transfer window
Here is their first clip where Alfie and Rob predict every single Arsenal incoming and outgoing this summer, including fees and potential destinations for outgoings.
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It would be a travesty if we’d sell Flo without him getting a chance to play regularly for us. Boys got 20 league goals this season, that’s not small thing for 21-year old playing in completely new league in a midtable club.
He’s been with us since he was 7 years old. Smith Rowes been with us since he was 9. They are one of our own. I don’t want us to let go of them so easily, without offering a chance.
@Dajuhi
It seems the only reason we have an Academy is to send them out on loan, let someone else nurture their talent, then sell them in order to buy some overhyped, half azzd player from another league. Jus sayin…
All this kid needs is a chance and it’s a goal.
I bet on Arteta keeping Folarin Balogun to remain in his Arsenal team at least for next summer campaign. Before he’ll take a decision on whether to keep him for the rest of next season or not.
Arteta sent Balogun out on loan to Reims last summer to improved on his game for Arsenal when he returns to the club in the summer.
And since he has successfully done what he has been sent out on loan to do. It has become important for Arteta to keep him for this coming summer campaign. And play him regularly in the Epl and Ucl as the Gunners lead striker to see how far he has improved on his game for Arsenal at the top level after going out on loan. And have scored 20 League goals for his loan club side.
He is NOT the type of striker wre need He is too similar instyle to Eddie, though possibly better. But, either way, not the type of powerful hold up the ball and use his physical power type we need.
He will, I feel sure, be sold this summer to whoever willpay the best price.
He could, if he wanted choose to stay, but seems to want a guaranteed place or he’s off. So its “he’s off” then. No other choice for any club than to NOT give in to that sort of arrogant demand.
As a followup to my above comment. Since there is a suggestion which looked to had made the rounds. Saying that, Arsenal could move GJesus to the right wing of the trio forwards. And I say to give competition to Saka in the positio? And save Arsenal their money from signing a new top quality midfield right winger next summer transfer window. Which to me looks to be in order. Because if Arteta moved GJesus to the right wing. It will allow the club to sign a new top class striker to compete with Balogun and Nkethia. As there will space in the team’s centreforward position for the new striker if signed.
But who will compete with Martinelli at the left wing position in the team? ESR? He was doing very well there when he was played there and scored 11 goals in the Epl last season from the position for the team. Before long spell injury sidelined him to disrupt his season.
I like that;
Rw – Saka or Jesus
Lw – Martinell, NEW
CF – NEW, Flo, Eddie
We can work with that and concentrate on Partey Competiton & Xhaka replacements. Also Vieria needs to be sold as he isn’t cut for Arsenal and what we are doing. Smithrowe can also fill I’m on the wing or for Øde!
Hopefully now we hear more good news after Martinelli, Ramsdale and Saka signed new deals with Saliba also committing. Kiwior will be okay back up for Gabriel but we need a right sided CB who can replace Rob and back up William.
Letting Teriney go with all the competitons next season would be a crazy decision as imo he’s than Zinchenko as a LB.
Imagine selling one of Europe’s most inform young striker and keeping current strikers, he would of hit 20 goals for us this season that passed with the quality we have and the facted that he can finish off chances in difficult moments we missed him this season when Jesus was injured and we didn’t really have anybody else besides Eddie if we had flo who knows what might have happened this season, Flo would have scored goals that is for certain, how many only God knows, but he should be given a chance if the gaffer does not give him a chance then he is throwing away somebody with a gift to score goals