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The Arsenal product thrived last season while on loan at Stade Reims.
Folarin Balogun, who is a target for Chelsea and plays for Arsenal, has given the go-ahead to join Mauricio Pochettino’s team, but a new source has indicated that he won’t be cheap.
When was Folarin Balogun born?
Balogun, who is 22 years old and an Emirates Stadium academy graduate, rose through the various youth categories to be promoted to the first squad back in 2022. However, with only 10 senior appearances, he has spent a lot of time traveling.
The striker has spent two loan seasons in his career, the first with Middlesbrough of the Championship and most recently with Stade Reims of Ligue 1, where he emerged as Will Still’s top scorer. This impressive play has sparked interest from English clubs once again.
Despite the attacker’s contract with Mikel Arteta’s squad not expiring for another two years, Sky Sports recently revealed that the Blues have expressed interest in the USA international. Tottenham Hotspur and Fulham have also been linked with a move before the end of the year.
Folarin Balogun is being signed by Chelsea.
Balogun has “agreed personal terms” with Chelsea, according to Football Transfers, who are “in talks” with Arsenal about a transfer for their young potential.
Todd Boehly expresses “optimism” that a deal may be done, but it’s important to remember that the Gunners aren’t willing to approve his sale for anything less than their £50 million asking price, and club executives have “no interest” in cashing out that much.
The Blues have “told” their Premier League opponents that they will only put forward £30 million, but it is unclear if anything will be accomplished with that sum.
Balogun may be a very exciting and productive signing for Pochettino given his impressive 25 goal contributions (22 goals and three assists) in 39 games while at Stade Reims, where he earned four WhoScored man-of-the-match accolades.
The New Yorker, who is adaptable enough to play anywhere along the frontline, also recorded 121 shots overall during the season, more than any other member of his squad, according to FBRef, underscoring his passion to score goals.
The striker is sponsored by Adidas and works with the same agent as Romeo Lavia, Elite Project Group, so this recent and ongoing relationship between his representative and the club may provide the hierarchy a slight advantage in the last weeks of the transfer window.
Following Christopher Nkunku’s long-term knee injury and the fact that Romelu Lukaku has been heavily linked with a move away, Chelsea are in need of attacking reinforcements. Jacek Kulig, a talent scout, has dubbed Balogun a “golden” player, making him the ideal candidate for the manager to bolster his squad with before September 1st. It appears that a deal could be in the works in the coming days.