Highly sought-after striker Folarin Balogun is reportedly open to departing Arsenal for cross-town rivals Chelsea.
The 22-year-old forward had a prolific loan spell at Reims last season, scoring 22 goals. However, it seems that Balogun doesn’t feature in the plans of Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta for the current season.
According to a report from the Mirror, Balogun, a product of Arsenal’s Hale End academy, is willing to make the switch to Stamford Bridge in London.
Chelsea, under the management of Mauricio Pochettino, have been active in the transfer market and are seeking to bolster their attacking options before the window closes. They’ve expressed interest in acquiring the promising young striker.
Reportedly, Arsenal is demanding a substantial fee of £50 million for Balogun, a figure that Chelsea is currently far from matching.
While Fulham and Monaco have also been linked to Balogun, it’s unlikely either club can meet the asking price set by Arsenal, potentially leading to negotiations.
In an effort to balance their financial situation, Arsenal is keen on selling Balogun while his value is high this summer. This could potentially result in the club lowering their asking price to around £40 million.