EXCLUSIVE: Arsenal striker Balogun opens Chelsea transfer talks

Steve Kay

• 6 Jul 2023 08:58 BST
• 3 min read

Exclusive

Folarin Balogun's representatives have spoken to Chelsea about a possible move to Stamford Bridge.

The Arsenal striker is in search of game-time and so is likely to move on from the north London club. We are told that his representatives have touched base with the Blues over a possible move to Stamford Bridge.

Balogun enjoyed a breakout season in France last term, scoring 21 Ligue 1 goals for Reims, making him the fourth-highest top-scorer.

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He has consequently attracted some elite clubs to his future while his agents have been sounding out possible destinations.

Chelsea have brought in Christopher Nkunku from RB Leipzig but are still in short supply upfront with Kai Havertz moving to the Gunners.

Balogun knows he won’t get regular game-time at the Emirates with Gabriel Jesus there and does not wish to leave on loan again.

Meanwhile, the Gunners look set to complete a double deal for Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber from West Ham and Ajax respectively. They paid West Ham a record £105million fee for Rice as the side look to pick up another title charge.

There are set to be plenty of outgoings too - with Balogun being one of them. Kieran Tierney is another who could go after his place in the starting line-up was usurped by Oleksandr Zinchenko, who arrived from Manchester City last season.

Arteta 'happy for Balogun

Mikel Arteta said in February about Balogun: “I’m so happy for him. He’s a boy that has a really clear idea of what he wants to do with his career. He’s really ambitious, really committed and really brave.

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“We discussed a lot before he made that move whether it was the right place to go and the other choices he had. He was so convinced. I’m really happy for him because he deserves what he’s getting.

“When you look at the numbers and what he is doing, it’s just incredible. It’s very rare to see that. But he’s got something special, that’s why we decided to give him a long-term contract and have faith in him and give him the long period that he needs now, because the loan he is having now is really different to the one he had before at Middlesbrough.”