Arsenal star REMOVED from first-team training as transfer saga rumbles on

Cameron Smith

• Updated: 25 Jul 2023 16:43 BST
• 4 min read

Mikel Arteta has reportedly taken the decision to remove Folarin Balogun from Arsenal’s first-team pre-season training following continued speculation surrounding his future.

The USMNT international trained alone on Monday 24 July and was not part of the club’s main pre-season session as Inter Milan persist with their pursuit of the 22-year-old.

Balogun spent last season on loan at Ligue 1 side Stade Reims and notched 21 league goals for Will Still’s team, which has caught the eye of several teams across Europe.

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The forward does not want to be loaned out again and is unlikely to be given regular game time at Arsenal next season thanks to the presence of Gabriel Jesus, Eddie Nketiah and Kai Havertz. Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli can also play through the middle.

As a result, he looks set to leave the club this summer, with Inter deemed his most likely destination. The Serie A giants were seemingly set on acquiring Romelu Lukaku on a permanent deal from Chelsea this window, but that deal collapsed after the Belgian striker began negotiating with Juventus too.

Inter have now identified Balogun as their primary target as they look to bolster their forward line after Lukaku’s return to Chelsea and Edin Dzeko’s move to Fenerbahce.

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Balogun training separately from Arsenal senior squad

Balogun was an unused substitute for Arsenal’s 2-0 defeat to Manchester United as their pre-season plans ramp up, while he trained separately two days after the match, according to The Mirror. The Hale End academy graduate worked with an individual coach rather than with the main group.

Oleksandr Zinchenko also trained away from the first-team, although the Ukrainian is continuing his recovery from a calf injury, while Balogun has no known injury problems.

The Gunners have reportedly slapped a €58 million (£50m) asking price on Balogun’s head following his goal-scoring exploits in France, although it remains to be seen if that fee can be reached by Inter.