Arsenal informs Chelsea of the fee for the transfer of Folarin Balogun.
Arsenal has informs Chelsea of the fee for the transfer of Folarin Balogun. Chelsea will have to pay Arsenal’s £40 million asking price to add striker Folarin Balogun to their attacking options.
Balogun, 22, has piqued the curiosity of several clubs this summer following a spectacular season on loan with Reims in Ligue 1. Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, and West Ham United all rumoured to be interested in the US international.
There are additional ties between AC Milan and Champions League finalists Inter Milan on the continent. However, AS Monaco has made the only formal bid so far, submitting a £34 million offer earlier this month.
It is expected that a better offer for the forward will be arriving. However, they are not the only team interested in the player.
Chelsea’s interest in the player is serious, according to Sky Sports, as the club seeks to address a lack of options up front. Despite his youth and lack of Premier League experience, Balogun will not be cheap.
Arsenal wants £40 million for the academy graduate, according to Mirror Football. It remains to be seen whether there will be a premium on top of that price when doing business with a London rival.
What is clear is that Mauricio Pochettino’s team need a No. 9 after managing to spend £1billion over the last 12 months without adequately addressing the position. Despite a decent debut against Liverpool last weekend and a promising preseason campaign, Nicolas Jackson is not enough.
The £32 million transfer from Villarreal is due to return to action this weekend against West Ham United, although he will be surrounded by firepower while he adjusts to a new league. Injuries haven’t helped either, with Christopher Nkunku “out for an extended period” following surgery to repair meniscus damage in his left knee.
Armando Broja is also still recovering from a significant knee injury sustained earlier this year, which resulted in an anterior cruciate ligament rupture. Meanwhile, Romelu Lukaku remains out of favour under Pochettino after returning from a season-long loan at Inter and is anticipating a move elsewhere.
Balogun is similarly down the pecking order at Arsenal, as he was not included in the squad for the 2-1 opening weekend triumph over Nottingham Forest.
Despite Gabriel Jesus’ absence for the first few weeks of the season, Balogun trails fellow academy product Eddie Nketiah and Chelsea summer addition Kai Havertz, who both started at the Emirates.
Mikel Arteta chose January signing Leandro Trossard, who appeared as a second-half replacement, to replace Nketiah for the final quarter-hour. Former Brighton and Hove Albion player has previously played as a false nine and appears to be ahead of Balogun in the manager’s intentions.
As a result, a move may benefit both the player and the suitors. However, Chelsea must first match Arsenal’s demands for a large transfer fee.
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