Arsenal of England coach, Mikel Arteta has come out with a daring verdict that the London-based English Premier League club will not lose their fast-rising Nigerian-born prodigy, Folarin Balogun this summer, megasportsarena.com reports.
Despite Balogun refusing to sign a new deal at Emirates Stadium, as the in-form striker is holding out for better terms with The Gunners or elsewhere, Arteta insists he remains hopeful that the whiz-kid will sign a fresh contract with the club.
Arteta’s declaration, though, comes against the backdrop of a report by British tabloid, The Mirror, that the highly-rated teenager could jolly well be on his way out of England this summer, as he is set to become a free agent and several top clubs, including Bayer Leverkusen and VfB Stuttgart of Germany as well as Stade Rennes of France, have been linked with his signature.
The Mirror added: “Bayer Leverkusen have emerged a possible destination for Balogun and are ready to offer him a lucrative contract. Fellow Bundesliga side, Stuttgart are interested in the Nigerian-born forward, as well as Ligue 1 outfit Rennes.
“Another German club, RB Leipzig were previously thought to be leading the race for the striker, who was born in New York before moving to London aged two. Arsenal may need to convince Balogun that he will receive more first-team minutes if the forward is to commit his future to the club.
“The England Under-20 international is behind Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nkeitah in the centre-forward pecking order at present. Balogun has scored seven goals in 14 league appearances for Arsenal’s Under-23s this season, but he has yet to be named in a matchday squad in the Premier League.
“The striker was also omitted from Arsenal’s travelling party for last month’s defeat by Southampton in the fourth round of the FA Cup. Balogun appeared to aim a dig at Arteta after that decision, with the youngster taking to social media to post a video of a goal he scored for the Under-23s after Arsenal were knocked out of the competition.
“Bayer Leverkusen had joined the race for the 19-year-old, who is yet to make his Premier League debut. Balogun, who has scored two goals in four Europa League appearances this term, is currently weighing up his options, but Arteta insists Arsenal are still optimistic that Balogun will still be at the Emirates Stadium next season.”
Arteta, though, appears nonplused by the report and the Spanish gaffer, who is himself a former captain of Arsenal, enthused: “I’m still very positive that Flo is going to stay with us and it’s what we’re trying to do as a club.
“It’s what I’m trying to do as a manager. As far as I know from last week, the player wants to be here, so I’m positive. I think he’s made some big progress in a few months.”
