Arsenal receive welcome Folarin Balogun transfer interest

When the January transfer window opens, despite there being relentless talk about who Arsenal may or may not bring in, the winter market is going to centre predominately around departures.

Amid talk of a new wide man being brought in, with Dejan Kulusevski the flavour of the month and Noa Lang links continuing to hover around, focus from inside Arsenal will be around moving players on.

While all is about as harmonious as can be in the Gunners camp there are still a number of players on the fringes of the first team who won’t be feeling quite as content. Not all of the January departures will be permanent ones though, as others will need to move on in search of regular minutes.

Gabriel Martinelli won’t be leaving, but another young forward may well be en route elsewhere.

Arsenal receive welcome Folarin Balogun transfer interest from Middlesbrough & Sheffield United ahead January window

Newly appointed Middlesbrough manger Chris Wilder has placed Folarin Balogun high up on his winter wishlist, reports The Sun, with there still being some uncertainty within the Gunners’ camp over what course of action to take with the striker.

Flo has been finding the net regularly for Kevin Betsy’s Under-23 side, scoring ten times and registering two assists in just eight Premier League 2 outings, with it widely agreed that he is a cut above youth level and needs to be playing senior football.

It didn’t require these eight Under-23 outings to know this, mind you.

"“I do feel like I am ready for a new challenge but I am not sure what that might be, it might be a loan or if I am needed at Arsenal then I am here and the gaffer knows that,” Balogun said recently. “I am definitely open to a new challenge but it is something that whatever that challenge is I will be ready.”"

Despite the dodgy source, Wilder is someone who has been following Balogun for a lengthy period of time having tried to lure him to Sheffield United back in September 2020 when a bid of £3m was rejected by Arsenal.

The new Boro boss was in attendance at Turf Moor to watch Balogun net his first England goal for Lee Carsley’s Under-21 side, and with the winter window approaching his interest is unlikely to have dissipated by then. Furthermore, Wilder’s former side, Sheffield United, also maintain the interest they had in the 20-year-old from the previous summer.

So, would Middlesbrough or Sheffield United suit Balogun best?

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