Arsenal of England youth team striker, Folarin Balogun will certainly leave The Gunners this summer, if the words of renowned journalist, Fabrizio Romano are anything to go by, megasportsarena.com reports.
With the 19-year-old Arsenal academy graduate, who has two first team goals and one assist to his name this season, still dragging feet over a contract extension at Emirates Stadium, Romano has come out with a down-to-earth declaration that the Nigerian-born lad is bound to move on.
Although his current contract expires in the summer, Balogun has curried frenetic transfer news in recent time, based on the fact that he has impressed in The Gunners’ under-23 level and when called up in the main team, such that head coach, Mikel Arteta keeps restating high hopes for the youngster’s future with the London-based outfit.
However, Arteta’s vision might become becloud, after Romano declared emphatically that Balogun will be departing Emirates Stadium this summer, while going on to disclose that as many as 15 clubs were after the England under-20 international.
Romano said: “He has like 15 bids on the table from Italian clubs, English clubs, German clubs. Many clubs are talking with his agent because now he’s a potential free agent for the summer.
“Balogun wants to play, his priority is to play. In the Europa League he was amazing but he was playing 60 minutes in total and that’s why the player is not so happy.
“He’s still open to talking with Arsenal about a new contract if they will let him play. If Mikel will change the situation and let him play in the next weeks for sure the situation can change and he can sit with Arsenal and discuss a new contract.
“He loves Arsenal, I heard he loves the club and would like to stay but he’s just not playing. For a young talent it’s terrible not to play. He feels he’s ready to help the club and wants to play.”
