4 clubs that could sign Folarin Balogun this summer

Folarin Balogun has come a long way since the opening night of the 2021/22 Premier League season. 

Forced into Mikel Arteta’s starting XI due to Alexandre Lacazatte and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang missing out, the young striker looked woefully out of his depth. However, despite playing merely 11 more minutes for the Gunners after his 70-minute showing at Brentford, Arsenal, less than two years on, now boast an asset worth upwards of £35m.

A majestic loan spell at Reims has seen Balogun’s value skyrocket and although he’s set to be given a chance to impress on the club’s pre-season tour of the States this summer, Arsenal would be wise to cash in while the striker’s value is so high.

4 clubs that could sign Folarin Balogun this summer

The player himself has already ruled out another loan move away, but there are several clubs from across Europe keen to acquire the recent USMNT commit. Here are four that could sign Balogun this summer.

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1. RB Leipzig

Balogun has been on RB Leipzig’s radar for some time, but their attention turned to Lens forward Lois Openda for a while. Openda emerged as the club’s priority target, but their attempts to prise the Belgian away from Lens have so far been shunned by the French club.

Thus, Die Roten Bullen are said to have reignited their interest in Balogun.

However, the German club are unwilling to spend a mammoth fee on the young forward, and it’s unlikely they’ll bid in excess of €44m – the total of their last offer which was rejected by Lens for Openda. It also remains to be seen whether they’ll return to Lens with another proposal for their Belgian star.

Leipzig are seemingly well stocked up top with Timo Werner and Andre Silva on their books, but they’ve lost a big percentage of their final third output following the exits of Dominik Szoboszlai and Christopher Nkunku.

Continued on the next slide…