Man Utd ‘make decision’ on signing Arsenal star who Ian Wright rates very highly
Erik ten Hag was rumored to be interested in a highly-touted Arsenal player during the summer, prompting Manchester United to raise the possibility of a repeat.
According to reports, Manchester United considered an audacious approach to sign Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun this summer.
Erik ten Hag is seeking a new goalscorer as his third signing prior to the start of the season, and Balogun was on his shortlist amid rumors of an Arsenal exit.
According to The Independent, the 22-year-old’s summer transfer to United is not a realistic possibility.
If he leaves the Emirates Stadium, it is more probable that he will join Serie A powerhouses AC Milan or Inter Milan than a Premier League rival.
United have evaluated Folarin Balogun, a striker for Arsenal.
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Arsenal’s $44m Folarin Balogun Transfer Decision Amid Clear Exit Path for USMNT Star
Arsenal transfer activity: Folarin Balogun continues to attract the interest of European clubs as the Gunners strive to secure the best possible contract for their striker.
Arsenal has provided Folarin Balogun with a fresh exit option.
Folarin Balogun appears increasingly likely to depart Arsenal this summer as the Gunners reportedly rejected a bid from Inter for the forward.
It had been reported that a loan transfer for the player was being considered with a £30 million ($38 million) obligation to buy after one season plus £5 million ($6.4 million) in fees over the course of the season, but this has yet to materialize.
The player is rumored to have a £50 million ($64 million) price tag on his head after breaking into European football with a stellar season at Stade de Reims in France last year.
With the addition of Kai Havertz to the swelling list of attacking options at the Emirates Stadium, Balogun’s role is unclear.
He is already in competition for a starting position with Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah, with Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli having played as center forwards in the past year.
Havertz is another football player who can play in the forward position.London is aware that he is also considered a midfielder by Mikel Arteta.
Now that Balogun is making a name for himself and numerous clubs are reportedly interested in him – Chelsea, RB Leipzig, AC Milan, and Crystal Palace, to name a few – his departure appears almost inevitable.
Balogun has not yet started a preseason game after appearing as a substitute against Nurnberg and MLS All-Stars, but he was inactive for the loss to Manchester United.
Arteta explained that he had to train separately before missing the match against Barcelona due to an injury.
“He was unavailable,” stated Arteta. Because of a minor foot injury, he has not been training with us. His route to selection is also not predetermined.
“We shall see [upon his return. First and foremost, he must be healthy and play minutes.”
Balogun is determined to make the most of the last two scheduled friendlies before the start of the new season, in which the USMNT star will have just two opportunities to impress his manager.
He has already stated that he will not accept a loan, but if he signs a contract, he will be able to transfer to San Siro, but there is still a significant valuation gap.
Sportmediaset, via Sport Witness, in Italy reports that Inter want to spend the same amount on the 22-year-old as they would have on first-choice Romelu Lukaku.
Their offer to Chelsea was identical, but it was rejected as too low, and now the same problem has arisen here.
Alvaro Morata, a former Chelsea striker, is also on their list of prospective attacking options for the remainder of the transfer window. However, progress towards a contract for him has been slow, as Balogun has taken precedence.
Arsenal is now in a difficult position because they risk losing the only concrete offer presently on the table for Balogun, but they also do not want to be perceived as undervaluing him or not receiving a fair price for their academy graduate.
Man Utd ‘make decision’ on signing Arsenal star who Ian Wright rates very highly
