Arsenal face Balogun problem as new club enters transfer race

Robin Bairner

• 20 Apr 2023 09:41 BST
• 3 min read

Arsenal face an increasing battle to keep Folarin Balogun at the Emirates Stadium next season, with an increasing number of big team watching the 21-year-old striker.

Balogun is presently on loan in Ligue 1 with an unfashionable Reims side. He has shone in Champagne, scoring 18 times in 30 matches as both he and the club have outstripped expectations for the season. Indeed, he is the fourth top scorer in Ligue 1 this season behind PSG’s Kylian Mbappe, Lille’s Jonathan David and Lyon’s Alexandre Lacazette, a former Gunners team-mate.

Although FootballTransfers understands that it is not Arsenal’s intention to sell the player, their hand could become forced if Balogun pushes to leave or they receive an offer that is well above their valuation of him.

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Champions League semi-finalists Milan have been closely linked with the forward, who is also attracting interest from RB Leipzig. And there are plenty of Ligue 1 clubs who are willing suitors for the forward, whose international future remains in the balance between England and the USA.

Monaco and Lille are both studying the prospect of signing the forward, but Marseille have now entered the race to sign the forward.

According to FootMercato: “Folarin Balogun is clearly in favour of staying in Ligue 1.”

Meanwhile, it is reported that Balogun loved playing at the Velodrome because of the atmosphere generated by the fans.

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Balogun to Marseille?

Marseille, however, could struggle to raise the type of money required to sign Balogun on a permanent basis having signed Vitinha from Braga for €32 million in the January transfer window.

OM are, however, on the lookout for a potential replacement for Alexis Sanchez, whose future is uncertain.

Balogun has an Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of €20 million, which has shot up from €8.7m when he signed for Reims at the start of the season. It would likely take a figure even greater than that to prompt Arsenal to sell the striker, who has a contract until June 2025.