Arsenal hopes of Folarin Balogun extension suffer fatal blow amid clearout

Folarin Balogun set to Leave Arsenal in the Summer

Indeed, football.london reveal that no agreement has found between the parties and it now looks certain that Balogun will leave the club in the summer.

Unsurprisingly, the striker is inundated with offers from the UK and in Europe, a measure of his talent that Arsenal fans have only briefly been able to witness in senior football.

Arteta’s repeated assurances of a happy ending raised hopes given his track record of ‘confidence’ in other player contracts, yet on this occasion the influence of agents has made talks near impossible. As per Le Grove, Balogun’s camp were demanding £40k-per-week from the Gunners – more than Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka earn.

Discussions have not only hit an impasse, but been brought to a crashing halt entirely. While not in rigor mortis just yet, it’d require some miraculous resuscitation.

The departure will be followed by other Under-23 stars who’ve not made the cut: Ben Sheaf, Arthur Okonkwo, Joseph Olowu and Kido Taylor-Hart are also heading for summer exits.

It’s the Balogun situation which is the biggest shame of all. Undoubtedly bursting with ability and, despite what the noises say, has a clear path to the senior side with Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah both up for sale at the end of the season and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to have two years left come that time, it’s an ugly scenario.

Balogun is putting his career first and deciding what he feels is best for his development, whether that’s a move to Germany or elsewhere. So be it. Whatever the wish of the player is, it must be respected, despite some of his off-field antics working against him.

If he’s gone, then turn the page. There is no point in Arsenal expending energy and time on a foregone conclusion when there is an obscene amount of work to be done elsewhere.

Disappointing it has come to this? Absolutely, but there is no point crying over milk that’s in the process of being spilled. Just move on.