According to the Daily Mirror, Folarin Balogun has requested that Arsenal reduce their asking price so that he may finalize a transfer away from the Emirates Stadium with West Ham showing interest. The American forward is dissatisfied with Arsenal’s decision to raise his asking price by £10 million, according to the newspaper’s website, even though Inter Milan declined to pay the first £45 million to sign him.
In an effort to strengthen their front line, West Ham has long targeted Balogun, but a loan deal is no longer an option since the previous Stade Reims loanee is not keen on the idea of making another brief transfer out of North London. Tom Beattie wrote on the USMNT forward’s future and said, “Folarin Balogun’s future at Arsenal remains uncertain as the player has urged the club to lower his asking price.
Given Balogun’s clear unwillingness to return to a loan, the North London giants appear to be ready for a sale this summer. The striker, it seems, is not pleased with the club’s decision to purportedly increase his worth by £10 million. Balogun is highly regarded at the London Stadium following his performances in Ligue 1, thus David Moyes is also keeping a careful eye on the player’s availability. Other Premier League teams have expressed interest in Balogun, but none have taken any action as of yet.
Time For West Ham To Get Involved Now
This summer, West Ham has been very cautious when it comes to signing players. The Hammers have been waiting for the right moment to negotiate a deal that benefits all sides, and this could be that moment. The American attacker has attracted Moyes’ attention and matches the younger kind of player many above him at the London Stadium are chasing.
However, Balogun’s displeasure and ongoing disputes with the Gunners appear to be what will finally cause him to leave North London this summer. The 22-year-old’s stunning 21 goals and three assists in 37 Ligue 1 games last season should have had teams all over Europe vying for his signature. However, he is still down the list at Arsenal and is available at the right price.
A contract over £50 million does seem a tad exorbitant considering that he has only really had one outstanding season in his career. The Irons could finally acquire a true goal scorer, though, provided they can agree on a sum that is closer to the initial £40 million asking price.
