Arsenal transfer news: The future of Folarin Balogun is uncertain according to recent reports with the striker heading into the last two years of his current contract
Questions are beginning to mount regarding Folarin Balogun's future with Arsenal.
Balogun has enjoyed a stellar 2022/23 campaign whilst on loan at Ligue 1 outfit Reims, netting 18 league goals already this term. However, The Athletic report that the 21-year-old is keen to be a first-choice striker at whatever club he is at next season, something that seems unlikely at the Emirates Stadium considering the Gunners currently employ Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah.
But another loan seems out of the question for the New York-born forward, who is said to be unwilling to make another temporary switch next term. The likes of AC Milan, RB Leipzig and Inter Milan have all been mooted as potential destinations for the youngster should Arsenal decide to let him leave this summer.
If sporting director Edu does sanction Balogun's permanent exit, Arsenal will be losing out on a top talent according to Gunners icon Thierry Henry. Speaking about the Hale End academy graduate to Prime Video Sport France back in September 2022, Henry said: "Normally players are loaned either to another Premier League side or in the Championship.
"He’s a very English-style player who likes to run down the channels but he was missing something, which was his finishing. He’s now starting to score goals regularly and I’m happy for that - happy he has gone abroad.”
Another former Arsenal striker that has been vocal about his admiration for Balogun is Ian Wright, who has previously backed him to replicate the goalscoring form he has shown in France in the Premier League. "Hopefully he can come back to Arsenal at some stage and prove himself," Wright told the Wrighty’s House podcast last month.
"He’s gone to another level in confidence. I think anywhere he goes in aspect of leagues, he’ll do what he is doing [in France] with the right service.
"It’s the way he’s taking those chances. His head space is at a different place right now. He knows he can do it right now.
"I guarantee you if he comes back, he probably picks up from what he’s doing in that league."