Arsenal have reportedly rejected Inter Milan’s opening offer of £30million for striker Folarin Balogun immediately and have demanded that the Serie A side up their offer in order to land the American international. Balogun spent last season on loan at Reims where he was among the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi at the top of the Ligue 1 scoring charts, prompting huge interest in his next move.
The 22-year-old wants to play regular football next season as a first-choice striker and is prepared to leave the Gunners in order to do so, as Balogun has Gabriel Jesus, Eddie Nketiah, Kai Havertz and Leandro Trossard for competition in Mikel Arteta’s squad.
With Balogun seemingly set to leave Arsenal, the Gunners could fetch a handsome transfer fee to help offset their £200m summer spend already – with the possibility of further additions beyond Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber as Arteta is reportedly eyeing competition for Bukayo Saka.
Italian outlet Sport Mediaset have claimed that after deciding against bringing Romelu Lukaku back to the San Siro, Inter’s sights have been set on Balogun. They are offering Arsenal the same amount as Chelsea were proposed for their out-of-favour Belgian forward, £25m up front with a further £5m in bonuses.
This has been deemed unsatisfactory by Arsenal, who previously set a reported price tag of £50m for their starter although it is appearing less likely that his future remains in north London. After missing the majority of the Gunners’ pre-season tour of the US through injury, Arteta was coy over Balogun’s future.
“He wasn’t available – he had a little foot injury, and he hasn’t been training with us, and he wasn’t available to us, that was the reason,” Arteta said before being asked about the striker’s future. “We will have to see. First of all, he has to be fit and available to play minutes.”
One element that has already been decided is that Balogun will not leave Arsenal on another loan, having been at Middlesbrough prior to his season at Reims. “What I can say is that I definitely won’t go on loan again,” Balogun said earlier this month.
“I’m not sure [about] the discussions that are going to take place, I’m not sure what’s going to happen. But I’m just committed to now, I try to stay present. I obviously want to enjoy the moment with my team and my family.”
Balogun also retains Premier League interest but if Inter want to prise him away from the Emirates they will have to improve their initial offer to Arsenal.
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