Mikel Arteta may have to sell a striker this summer – with Gabriel Jesus, Eddie Nketiah, Kai Havertz, Leandro Trossard and Folarin Balogun all currently on Arsenal’s books
Folarin Balogun trained separately from his Arsenal team-mates on Monday – as speculation over his future continues to grow.
Balogun, 22, could leave the Gunners this summer after scoring 21 Ligue 1 goals for Reims during a loan spell last term. The United States international is keen to feature regularly in the first team but will find it difficult to do so under Mikel Arteta at the Emirates.
Arteta already has a number of forwards on his books such as Gabriel Jesus, Eddie Nketiah, Leandro Trossard and new signing Kai Havertz. It is possible Arsenal could cash in on Balogun, who has two years remaining on his contract, in the coming weeks.
Champions League runners-up Inter Milan are keen to sign Balogun, with Arsenal putting a £50 million price tag on him. The emerging striker was an unused substitute in their 2-0 pre-season loss to Manchester United in New Jersey on Saturday.
Arsenal have traveled to Los Angeles ahead of their match against Barcelona on Thursday. Instead of training with his teammates, Balogun trained with individual coaches. It is unclear whether he will feature against the LaLiga champions this weekend.
Oleksandr Zinchenko also completed the one-on-one training session, as he continues his recovery from a calf strain. The Ukraine international, 26, missed Arsenal’s last three Premier League games last season due to a worrying complaint.
Balogun was one of the most exciting players in Ligue 1 last season and is not looking to sit on the bench at the Emirates. It is unlikely he will complete another loan term due to the length of his contract and wants his long term future resolved.
“To be honest I was away for a year so I just came back,” Balogun told reporters earlier this month. “Obviously I’m just focused on pre-season with the team. It’s great to see everyone, all the staff… agents and my family dealing with [my future].”
Arteta added: “It’s good because he’s done very well. Now we have to think about what’s the best thing to do. We want to see, we want to feel that in the next few games… then we’ll make the best decision.”
Balogun is not afraid to make a bold decision after switching his international allegiance from England to the United States in May. The youngster’s brave calling was vindicated in June, when he scored in the CONCACAF Nations League final win against Canada.
He was born in New York but raised in England and joined Arsenal’s academy at the age of eight. He scored two goals in 10 senior appearances for Arteta’s side and has spent time on loan with Middlesbrough, scoring three goals in 18 Championship games.
Balogun’s big break was Reims, where he enjoyed a prolific campaign establishing himself at first-team level. He represented England at youth level, scoring seven goals in 13 U21 appearances before deciding to play for the United States.
