Chelsea have been linked with a move for Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun but might not pay £50 million to secure his services.
Folarin Balogun needs to leave Arsenal this summer in order to play regularly, and Chelsea are reportedly keen on securing his services. A report from 90min claims that the Blues are now hesitant to pay his £50 million asking price.
Balogun was on loan at French club Reims last season, and he scored 22 goals across all competitions. The talented young Arsenal forward has a bright future ahead of him, and he needs to join a club where he will get ample game time.
Balogun cannot afford to sit on the bench at Arsenal this season, and it would affect his development negatively. The player has been linked with a number of European clubs in recent weeks and it will be interesting to see where he ends up. Recent reports have claimed that he is open to joining AS Monaco and Chelsea.
The reported £50 million price tag might seem like a premium right now. But the talented young striker certainly has the potential to justify the outlay in the long run. Chelsea need to add more quality and depth to their attack this summer. The Blues signed Nicolas Jackson to ease their goalscoring problems. But they should look to bring in more support for the former La Liga striker.
Balogun showed his quality in Ligue 1 last year, and he has the ability to lead the line for a Premier League club as well. It seems unlikely that Arsenal will reduce the player’s asking price in the next few days. So Chelsea will have to shell out big money if they want to sign the player, although they are reluctant right now. Nonetheless, they remain keen on securing his services.
Balogun has the potential to develop into a key player for Chelsea, and he could prove to be a bargain in the long run. Meanwhile, Arsenal already have Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah ahead of the 22-year-old in the pecking order. So Balogun is unlikely to get ample opportunities at the north London club.
Arsenal should look to cash in on him and sign a versatile forward who can slot in anywhere across the front three. Mikel Arteta was unable to rotate his front three because of the lack of depth last season. So it remains to be seen whether Arsenal can bring in the right reinforcements before the transfer window closes.
