Arsenal given unexpected BOOST in Balogun transfer saga

Tom Weber

Updated: 19 Aug 2023 15:30 BST
4 min read

Folarin Balogun, Reims, Arsenal, 2022/23 — © ProShots

West Ham could go back in for Folarin Balogun after missing out on Elye Wahi.

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The Hammers are on the lookout for a striker. They had already been keeping an eye on the market when Gianluca Scamacca was still around, and they are now even more keen on adding firepower after the Italian returned to Serie A, signing with Atalanta.

Indeed, West Ham had been keeping an eye on French wonderkid Elye Wahi of Montpellier, who was also monitored by the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal and Eintracht Frankfurt. The 20-year-old has, however, now decided to make the surprising decision of staying in France and signing with last season's Ligue 1 runners-up RC Lens.

READ: Elye Wahi takes decisive decision over €35m transfer

With less than two weeks to go in the summer transfer window, the Hammers could become more desperate in their bid to further bolster their squad, having thus far only managed to bring in midfield reinforcements in the shape of Edson Alvarez and James Ward-Prowse, while failing to land Harry Maguire and Scott McTominay.

Balogun's future

This has given rise to suggestions that West Ham could rekindle their interest in wantaway Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun and actually match the Gunners' steep asking price.

It has been precisely the price tag Arsenal slapped on Balogun that has caused this to become something of a transfer saga. Most clubs in Europe feel that the north London club are demanding too much for him off the back of his impressive season with Stade Reims.

Inter and Monaco have both been prised out of signing Balogun and it is clear that only a Premier League side would be able to cough up the fee demanded.

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As FootballTransfers has exclusively reported, the American is a priority target for David Moyes at West Ham, so the Hammers could be desperate enough to put the necessary money on the table.