Balogun set for CLASH over Arsenal future

Jacque Talbot

• 10 Apr 2023 15:08 BST
• 3 min read

Folarin Balogun is set for showdown talks with Arsenal over his future.

The Athletic report that the striker is wanting to be the club’s first-choice striker next campaign and would ‘like nothing more’ than to do so with the club.

The north London side currently have Gabriel Jesus as their main choice to lead the line. The Brazilian scored a third goal in two matches since coming back from injury, his finish helping Arsenal to a point over Liverpool on Sunday.

READ MORE: EXCLUSIVE: Arsenal to reject all Folarin Balogun transfer bids

Balogun is currently out on loan at Reims and when his spell there is up in the

When his spell in France finishes this summer, Arsenal are going to have to weigh up their options.

Given the contracts of Jesus, and even Eddie Nketiah, he is unlikely to earn regular first-team football next season, while he is also against the idea of moving out on loan again.

As well as Reims in Ligue, Balogun also spent time at Middlesbrough for the second half of the 2021-22 campaign.

The striker has two years left on his deal and, at the moment, does not wish to extend it.

The likes of AC Milan, Inter Milan, Marseille, Monaco and RB Leipzig are thought to be monitoring the situation with the attacker.

Arsenal to reject offers

The trouble is there may be something of a clash with the player and club. The story comes after our exclusive in which we were told that Arsenal are not prepared to listen to any bids.

His progress has not gone unnoticed at the Emirates Stadium and Arteta and technical director Edu have already made up their minds - they will either push for a loan back to Reims or try and integrate him into the first-team setup.

FootballTransfers’ Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) for Balogun is €19 million – up from €12m when he made the loan move to Reims.