Arsenal receive welcome Folarin Balogun transfer interest

Middlesbrough Would be a Great Fit for Folarin Balogun

While these two clubs have been mentioned, once Championship and foreign clubs get whiff of the possibility that Balogun could leave on loan in January, he will be inundated with offers.

Another aspect that is highly reassuring is that the interest is coming from the second tier, where there are plenty of admirers of the Hale End graduate.

However, of the two clubs showing interest, the best move for Balogun would be to link up with Wilder on Teeside. Firstly, his long-standing admiration for Flo suggests he has a clear plan on how to use him, but most importantly of all is that it’s the place the striker looks most likely to get minutes.

The striking department at the Riverside is lacking in quality, with first choice pairing of Andraz Sporar and Uche Ikpeazu netting a combined total of just four goals in 25 Championship outings this season. There is now a reliance on 18-year-old Josh Coburn, who has come in and scored three times in six league appearances, while Duncan Watmore has just the one goal all season and is best suited in wide areas.

The opportunity to stake a claim in the team is there for Balogun, and while Neal Warnock recently got the sack, Boro are still only four points off the play-off places.

As for Sheffield United there is bags of experience for Balogun to settle in alongside, but also a mountain of striker to compete with: Billy Sharp, Ollie McBurnie, Lys Mousset, Rhian Brewster, David McGoldrick and Oliver Burke are all options in the striker role in Slaviša Jokanović’s 4-2-3-1 system.

Granted, 90% of them are absolutely dreadful, but there is nonetheless more competition for the Arsenal man.

Whatever the club may be, if indeed there is one, Balogun will learn much more playing men’s football somewhere out of his comfort zone where the weather is colder, the atmospheres are heated and the tackles are meatier. It’ll prepare him better than any youth football at London Colney.

He needs to get some proper minutes under his belt.