Arsenal are said to be close to agreeing a new four-year deal with Folarin Balogun, who has been attracting attention from Manchester City.
The Gunners have been in talks with the young striker for much of the season, having failed to agree terms over a new deal thus far, but a breakthrough is believed to have emerged.
Sportsmail amongst others are claiming that the uncertainty over his future can be cast off with a new contract set to be thrashed out.
Balogun attracted plenty of attention with just months remaining on his current deal, and with his rare appearances in the first-team having excited onlookers.
The youngster has two goals and an assist from his five substitute outings in the Europa League and League Cup.
The 19 year-old is now expected to sign a new four-year contract to stay in North London beyond the summer, despite a number of offers believed to have been on the cards from England and abroad.
It will be interesting to see if his new contract will see him get his Premier League debut before the season ends, or if he will be given the chance to overthrow Eddie Nketiah in the pecking order, with the latter currently third choice striker behind both Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Patrick
Selling Nketiah for £15m + add ons and replacing his spot in the squad with Balogun is just smart business.
Or extend Eddies contract as well and send him on loan (for a fee of course).
I second extend Eddies contract and send him out on loan
Nketiah should and will be sold, absolutely. He obviously isn’t good at all.
Balogun just needed some reassurance he will get more game time. Watching Abameyang and laccazette play last night might just have made his mind up to stay.
Nice. Now Arteta can bench Maritnelli and Balogun together. Have to make sure Willian gets his contracted gametime.
sad but true, unless there’s a managerial change on the horizon…maybe the next man in will see the wisdom in the old adage, your best defence is a good offence
Boring
thats what ive been saying, sue!
Hopefully one day we get to see a match with martinelli,balogun,saka, ESR all starting….. I just hope… Our future core needs to be harnessed and managed properly..
We have talents all over to make a strong golden generation in a couple of yrs… Saka ,Martinelli ,balogun, Tierney can lay claims to being amongst the best young prospects in their respective positions..
IF ONLY Arteta can grow some balls and take the risk..only if
RSH, I don’t know how old you are, your educational ,family and employment background,but it is clear to me and probably many others, that you have a decidedly warped sense of humour.
Its not humour Grandad – RSH appears to be a bitter man.
It doesn’t matter how old he is the point is valid, i dont get the jibe, why not answer the point made instead.
I know Guy. I was trying to give him the benefit of any doubt.
Grandad and Guy, please explain to me exactly what RSH has said, that doesn’t make sense.
The only point in question is, does Willian actually have game time in his contract, because I cannot think of any other reason he is having game time, while Martinelli sits on the bench, watching the dross football currently being served up?
I think the point RSH is implying (sorry if I’m wrong), is that will Balogun also sit on the bench, while watching Aubemeyang being selected and producing nothing…. just as Willian is doing.
agree with most of what you said Ken, minus the Auba dig…I still think his woes are largely predicated on Arteta’s negative tactics…he must be frustrated considering he was undoubtedly given some assurances regarding the offensive game-plan moving forward when he signed his extension…unfortunately the only promises that Arteta has been desperate to fulfill are those he gave to Willian, Xhaka, Luiz and Real Madrid
But as her isn’t performing at under MA’s tactics, will the boss change them to fit Aubemeyang in?
It seems he isn’t, so that’s where my thinking leads me… I could be wrong as usual.
In a way we’re on the same page, in that I too think Auba’s numbers are underwhelming…I simply believe that it has more to do with the overly negative tactics, whereas it appears as if you put most of the blame squarely on the shoulders of the player…likely a problematic mixture of both, I would suspect…that said, for me it’s not a chicken or the egg scenario, as I’m convinced the poor tactics led to a glaring lack of opportunities, which ultimately affected the effort levels of the player
I’m still convinced that Arteta’s delusions of grandeur, following the FA last season, had Mikel wrongly believing that we were a Willian and a Partey away from things, which is why he pushed for Auba’s signature and didn’t sell off Laca
KEN, SPEAKING AS A CONFIRMED MA supporter, I do agree with you and with RSH on this one. Martinelli must feel like a leper, so far away from the team as he is. Balogun too has hardly has a minute to show his wares while both LACA AND AUBA underwhelm consistently and Auba swans around like he cant be bothered to actually work for his money.
I’d be perfectly happy to see BOTH leave this summer if it can be done and have players in that deserve a proper a chance and have for ages too.
BTW, pleasE don’t think I am not aware of MAs many mistakes as I am very well aware. But he needs proper time with no money and a culture of coasting and player entitlement to eradicate. He needs to step up fast though, IMO!
Jon, whatever happens this season, I cannot see MA being sacked / resigning.
I believe kronkie holds the key to his future… a future that will see Aubemeyang (unless he can find even 50% of his form) another casualty… if we can offload him with that ludicrous contr
If we do get Balogun to sign a long term deal, it surely will be with a promise of, at least, first team involvement?
That means either Nketiah, Lacazette or Aubameyang will be surplus to requirements and I think Lacs is the best of the three, as long as he doesn’t also get a ridiculous offer – so Nketiah or Aubameyang will pay the price for Balogun in my opinion.
Yeah Ken, certain people on this site cant stand others having a difference in opinion. If dare do, you are then labeled fickle, delusional, uneducated and bitter etc.
At least Grandad and Guy were polite Mambo – as they always are.
I just wondered what RSH said that got that reaction from two respected posters.
Your right about opinions though!!!
Wow, guess i hit a nerve today, lol! lighten up folks.
I saw no problem with your point, i dont get why people have a pop at the person with the opinion, when it is very valid and OPINION.
Agreed and I’m not sure why people keep bringing up age into the conversation .
Not sure why you was asked about your personal life as well ,pure weird
😆👍
I have been annoyed for many weeks that a young player who cannot stop scoring could be leaving for nothing, with apparently half of Europe as well as Liverpool waiting with a contract for him to sign; so, if the reports are accurate, it is marvellous news. As for Eddie, I have never been convinced he looked like making it with Arsenal, so no messing around with loans, sell him and get in some useful funds. Are the Hammers still interested?
It’s better we try matineli,saka and balagun in that attack and leave all this sentiment of a big player or experience and we will have a good game
This players are also good ones
They can do it for u…😠
Smart Elijah, but if you play Bellogun and Nketiah as LW as Auba, they will not score. As simple as that, which seems so hard for Arteta to get…
Im just waiting for Arteta to take action of selling Nketia and push Balogun to number three sell Laca use the money to bring Ordisson Odoi whom Keran knows very well from Celtic then we see if things will not work our way.