Arsenal starlet dashes Man Utd hopes and finally signs new contract
Arsenal forward Folarin Balogun has signed a new long-term contract at the Emirates Stadium, the Premier League club announced.
The 19-year-old’s future was in doubt with his contract up at the end of the season. Balogun was linked a move to Manchester United, while Juventus, RB Leipzig and Bayer Leverkusen were all interested in him. Balogun though, who shares an agent with Bukayo Saka, Eddie Nketiah and Reiss Nelson, has put pen to paper on a four-year contract.
Technical director Edu said: “It’s great that Flo will continue to be with us. He is a very promising young talent and has already shown so much quality in his performances. We are all looking forward to working with him during his continued development in the coming years.”
Mikel Arteta added: “We have been extremely impressed with Flo this season. He has continually shown his natural ability in many training sessions with us. And we have been equally impressed with his early integration into the first-team squad on matchdays.
“He has given us glimpses with the performances and of course with his two goals already for the first team. The hard work starts here for Flo. We are all looking forward to supporting and working with him in the years to come.”
Balogun, who has signed until 2025, has made five first team appearances this season, scoring twice and creating one assist.
Mikel Arteta also wanted the US-born forward to stay, but was unsure that his agent reciprocated that feeling.
There were rumours that Balogun had already agreed to join RB Leipzig for next season. However, Arteta denied that was the case. And now he has signed up dashing the hopes of a number of clubs, including United.
Don Balon recently claimed Manchester United were among his potential suitors.
United have been looking to the future in the transfer market and have wrapped up deals for promising youngsters like Amad Diallo and Facundo Pellistri in recent months.
Ek to test Kroenke’s resolve
The billionaire owner of Spotify, along with the aid of three Arsenal Invincibles, is bidding to buy the Gunners from under-fire American owner Stan Kroenke.
Last week Daniel Ek, an Arsenal fan, signalled his interest in buying the Gunners. In a message posted on Twitter, Ek said: “As a kid growing up, I’ve cheered for @Arsenal as long as I can remember. If KSE would like to sell Arsenal I’d be happy to throw my hat in the ring.”
And now, according to the Daily Telegraph, Ek has teamed up with Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp and Patrick Vieira to wrestle control from Kroenke Sports and Entertainment.
Arsenal’s ownership has been attacked in light of the club’s plans to join the European Super League. The club, like the five other Premier League participants, were quick to back out of the deal. The new competition was met with fierce criticism.
More than 1000 Arsenal fans protested on Friday at The Emirates before the Premier League clash with Everton.
Ek though looks set to test the resolve of KSE and “is set to make a formal offer to buy the club from Kroenke”.
The Swedish entrepreneur is worth £3.4bn, according to Forbes, while his Spotify music streaming service valued at £51.9bn.
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