Manager turned down chance to sign Arsenal forward this summer – ‘Regrets’ starting to appear

This summer, Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun left the Gunners to join French side Reims on a loan deal.

The youngster has been having a wonderful start in Ligue 1, with five goals and two assists in only six appearances, and that’s obviously more than enough for the local media to be quite impressed with him.

It turns out that there’s a specific club having a particular feeling when watching Balogun’s performances, and that’s Nantes, who apparently had the chance of signing him from Arsenal in the last transfer window.

L’Equipe today writes that the 21-year-old had been ‘in the sights’ of their management, but the signing was blocked by coach Antoine Kombouaré and sports coordinator Philippe Mao, who were ‘particularly opposed to his arrival’.

Arsenal ended up finding an agreement with Reims, and with his first appearances, L’Equipe writes that his performances are giving Nantes ‘some regrets’, as they now watch his success while their own team struggle to find the back of the net.

Following the promotion from Arsenal’s academy, Bolagun had a short loan at Middlesbrough, and is now proving himself in France.

His contract with the Gunners runs until 2025.