Arsenal could be set to lose attacking star Folarin Balogun this summer, with the on-loan striker keen to continue his first team football journey at the end of his spell.
The 21-year-old striker made the loan switch to Ligue 1 and struggling side Stade des Reims at the start of the season, and has proved himself a goalscoring revelation in the months since.
A penalty to rescue a 1-1 draw with Brest took him to 18 Ligue 1 goals for the season, joint third with former teammate Alexandre Lacazette in the top scorer charts in France.
In doing so, he tied level with Glenn Hoddle for most goals by an Englishman in a Ligue 1 season, and his future appears to be bright.
It may not be at the Emirates Stadium, however.
As per the Athletic, Balogun would love to stay at Arsenal, but more importantly ‘wants to continue operating as a first-choice striker’, something that the presence of Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah would suggest won’t be happening in north London.
‘He is also opposed to the idea of a third temporary switch’, it is reported, meaning that the only options available to Arsenal would be to hand him a starting berth next season, keep him but let his contract run down and lose him on the cheap, or cash in this summer.
The Gunners have previous of doing just this, when they sold Joe Willock to Newcastle after a successful loan spell with the Magpies, in a decision that appears to have reaped rewards for all parties.
With Balogun’s contract up in 2025, this summer will prove crucial to his potential Arsenal future.
