The United States got the ‘9′ they were looking for. Folarin Balogun, a striker who had a great season with France’s Stade de Reims, chose to represent the country of the Stars and Stripes instead of England. Balogun scored his first American goal in the Nations League final against Canada.
However, Balogun still belongs to Arsenal, a club that has already put a price tag on the American striker, and the next team seeking the services of one of last season’s top scorers in Ligue 1 will have to pay it.
The 21-year-old striker has scored 21 goals, behind only Kylian Mbappé, Alexandre Lacazette, and Jonathan David, and is level with Lens’ Loïs Openda.
Arsenal valued the American striker at between £40 million and £50 million, or about $64 million, and are willing to sit down and negotiate with potential buyers. However, according to Sky Sports, neither the striker nor his agent wants to go out on loan again.
Balogun’s possible options on the market
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In June, the British tabloid ‘Daily Mail’ reported that two Italian giants would fight for Balogun’s signature. Inter and Milan would be the clubs looking to sign the still Arsenal player in the same summer market.
In addition, according to ‘The Athletic,’ other clubs interested in Balogun would be RB Leipzig, who recently lost Christopher Nkunku to Chelsea; Olympique de Marseille; and AS Monaco, the latter two from the French league.
Balogun’s contract with the ‘Gunners’ expires in 2025, this after he arrived at Arsenal in 2017 and thus spent time at various levels at the club. The Gunners’ strikers are Gabriel Jesus, Reiss Nelson, and Eddie Nketiah.