Arsenal

Arsenal

Premier League • England

Arsenal name price for forward who’s had enough, as likeliest destination and shock Man Utd claim emerge

Arsenal trio Eddie Nketiah, Folarin Balogun and Nuno Tavares

Arsenal trio Eddie Nketiah, Folarin Balogun and Nuno Tavares

Two sources have confirmed how much Arsenal want for an attacker who’s ‘likely’ to leave this summer, and despite a shock link to Man Utd, a different destination awaits.

The Gunners boast an embarrassment of riches in the forward ranks at present. Mikel Arteta has at least two effective options for all four of his attacking positions following the January arrival of Leandro Trossard.

Gebrial Jesus is backed up by Eddie Nketiah up top, while Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli split time on the left flank. Reiss Nelson is Bukayo Saka’s deputy on the right side, while both Fabio Vieira and Emile Smith Rowe are waiting in reserve if Martin Odegaard needs a rest.

With so much attacking talent at Arsenal’s disposal, it should come as no surprise to learn Folarin Balogun is being squeezed out.

The 21-year-old centre-forward is currently on loan at French side Reims where he’s the joint-third highest scorer in Ligue 1. Only Lille’s Jonathan David and Kylian Mbappe of PSG have scored more (19) than Balogun’s 18.

Balogun is clearly benefitting from featuring regularly in one of Europe’s top five leagues. However, the Gunners are unlikely to reap the rewards.

That’s because the Daily Mail recently reported Balogun is dead set against a third loan spell away. He was previously on loan at Middlesbrough in the first half of 2022.

Adding further fuel to the exit fire is a report from the Athletic that stated Balogun won’t sign a new deal in north London. His current contract expires in 2025.

The Times subsequently reported that with Arsenal backed into a corner, they’ll reluctantly listen to offers at season’s end.

Until now, reports had differed wildly as to how much a Balogun transfer would cost. With good reason, it’s difficult to price up a player who’s scoring goals for fun, though doesn’t have a proven track record.

Arsenal name price for Balogun

However, two sources in Germany have both converged on the number Arsenal will seek. Per Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg and reporter Philipp Hinze, the magic number is €40m (approx. £35m). The Gunners would ideally like more, but €40m is where the bidding will begin.

One might wonder why two German sources appear to know how much Arsenal want. However, that’s likely due to the fact Balogun’s primary suitor is shaping up to be RB Leipzig.

The Bundesliga outfit will lose their most potent attacking weapon in Christopher Nkunku to Chelsea at season’s end. The French ace has already signed off on a £53m move to Stamford Bridge.

As such, Leipzig have both a void to fill and cash to burn and the man they’re sizing up is Balogun. Plettenberg tweeted on Tuesday it’s “confirmed” Leipzig are interested in a move.

Adding his take, journalist Hinze subsequently added Balogun “fits [Leipzig’s] requirement profile perfectly.”

Explaining why, Hinze explained: “He’s young, capable of development, great potential and he’s hungry for many goals.”

Another club on the hunt for a striker with many of those traits is Manchester United.

The Manchester Evening News recently floated the idea of United raiding great rivals Arsenal for their homegrown star. Indeed, the outlet claimed the 21-year-old ‘could already be on their radar’.

However, details beyond that vague speculation are yet to firm up and at present, it’s Leipzig who look the better bet.

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