24 August 2023 , 05:33
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AS Monaco are poised to lodge an official £35million bid for Folarin Balogun following reports linking the Arsenal striker with a switch to Chelsea.
Balogun, 22, has been deemed surplus to requirements at the Emirates despite plundering 21 goals in Ligue 1 for Reims last year. And while there is plenty of Premier League interest in the Hale End graduate, another move abroad could be on the cards for the forward.
Chelsea are in the market for a new No.9 and have reportedly enquired about Balogun's availability, but after seeing the striker in action themselves last year, French giants Monaco are now planning to firm up their interest in the Arsenal ace.
According to talkSPORT, Monaco are set to launch an official bid worth in excess of £35m for Balogun ahead of next week's transfer deadline - a move which could spark a bidding war for the striker's services. Although Arsenal are ready to cash in on their homegrown star, it is believed the Gunners could now hold out for as much as £50m for Balogun, who has made it clear that he wants to continue playing regular first-team football.
Fulham are another club who understood to be in the mix for Balogun's signature, however, the youngster has already opened the door for a return to France amid Monaco's interest. During his season-long stint at Reims, Balogun expressed how much he had enjoyed his spell abroad before teasing that he would be open to returning to Ligue 1 if a move away from Arsenal were to materialise.
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After being asked if he could see a future for himself in France, Balogun told Ligue1.com back in March: "Yeah I mean there's no door that's closed. Of course I have had a good year here and to a lot of people it makes sense for me to come back here. So yeah I mean I don't know what the future will bring.
"But definitely I would advise young players to come out here. It's a really, really tough league, a league that will help you to improve. You get to play in crazy atmospheres. If you're ready to take yourself out of your comfort zone, I would advise any young player, I would advise any young player to come here."