While the loan of Nuno Tavares at Marseille hasn’t quite gone to plan, Arsenal’s decision to send Folarin Balogun to Stade de Reims has been nothing short of inspired.
The young forward has 18 goals to his name this season for the Ligue 1 side, with some of those coming against the big teams, which is why L’Equipe say his efficiency is ‘formidable’ regardless of who he plays against.
His stock has increased drastically over the past few months, and that’s why the Arsenal man is being targeted by numerous clubs, who are hoping to sign him permanently.
L’Equipe look at his future, and explain that having now ‘launched his career’, the player will ‘naturally be in demand’, and that’s why the Gunners would ‘appreciate to get a nice sum from his sale’.
What is ‘certain’ is that Arsenal will not let him go for ‘less than €30m’, which Lille cannot afford, while others, such as AC Milan, RB Leipzig and even Marseille, will have to look at their finances closely to see if they can fit him in.
His next club will ‘not necessarily be in England’, meaning Arsenal will likely want to sell him abroad, but his price potentially pushes most French clubs to one side too.
That’s why someone like the aforementioned Milan would make a lot of sense, as they are already eyeing up Reiss Nelson on a free, leading to a potential double swoop at the Emirates, paying for Balogun and making the most out of the winger’s contractual situation.
