Balogun eyes Arsenal exit

On-loan Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun is considering an exit from the Premier League leaders and currently has no intention of signing a new deal at the club amid speculation surrounding his future.

The 21-year-old built a reputation as a prolific marksman for the Gunners at youth level, but he struggled to hit the ground running in the first team after an underwhelming loan spell at Middlesbrough in the second half of last season, Balogun is unexpectedly challenging for the Ligue 1 Golden Boot during a magnificent spell at Reims.

The American-born striker of Nigerian descent has found the back of the net 18 times in 29 top-flight matches for Will Still’s side, with his most recent effort coming in Sunday’s draw against Brest.

Only Lille’s Jonathan David and Paris Saint-Germain’s Kylian Mbappe with 19 goals have scored more than Balogun in Ligue 1 this season.

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Thanks to Balogun’s exploits, Reims are making a late charge for European football as they sit eighth in the table, but Les Rouges et Blancs’ president has ruled out a permanent move this summer.

As a result, the striker is poised to return to Arsenal when the campaign concludes, but his future remains uncertain ahead of the expiration of his contract in 2025.

According to The Athletic, Balogun has no plans to extend his Emirates deal at present, as top European clubs are set to compete for his signature in the upcoming transfer window.

All of AC Milan, Inter Milan, RB Leipzig, Marseille and Monaco are supposedly interested in signing Balogun, who has also emerged as Lille’s number one replacement for David.

Balogun still harbours ambitions of leading the line for Arsenal in the 2023/24 campaign, but his chances of rising above Gabriel Jesus or Eddie Nketiah in the pecking order are slim.

As a result, a permanent move to a different league could appeal to Balogun, and his decision not to sign a new Arsenal deal is largely down to his personal situation rather than any ill feelings towards the club.

The 21-year-old said in March month his North London future will be decided at the end of the season, but Arsenal may be reluctant to let Balogun enter the final two years of his contract while his stock continues to rise this season.