Liverpool are reportedly among a number of suitors that are looking to sign Arsenal starlet Folarin Balogun on a free transfer in the summer.
According to The Athletic, Folarin Balogun is on the Liverpool radar. The Arsenal youngster is yet to sign an extension to his current Arsenal deal, which is set to expire in the summer of 2021, and his situation is being monitored by a number of clubs.
The report further states that Balogun has continued to reject new contract offers from Arsenal in 2020 due to concerns over lack of first-team minutes and the situation hasn’t really improved in the 2020/21 season either. The Gunners now face the prospect of losing him for nothing except compensation or development fees that is prescribed in cases of free transfer of players under the age of 24.
Folarin Balogun is a centre-forward by trade but can also play out on the wings. The 19-year-old has been in tremendous form in the Premier League 2, recording 4 goals and 2 assists in 10 appearances so far. Balogun has certified his credentials in the Europa League as well, with 2 goals and an assist to show for himself in 4 games played.
What is even more shocking is that the 19-year-old has averaged a goal contribution every 31 minutes in the Europa League. Despite all of this, the youngster has never been handed a start by Mikel Arteta even as all of his other forwards continue to fluff the lines in front of the goal this season. Liverpool could be looking to use this situation to add Balogun to their squad come summer.
Jurgen Klopp is reaping the rewards of bringing in Diogo Jota in the summer. The Portuguese international has been Liverpool’s best attacker this season and has rescued the Reds on numerous occasions already. However, Divock Origi is being linked with an exit and Xherdan Shaqiri could well be on his way out, having not had many first-team minutes in 2020.
Balogun is knocking at the doors of the first-team setup at Arsenal and while his knocks have fallen to deaf ears under Arteta, Klopp would have taken note of the 19-year-old’s displays in the Europa League.
Liverpool could land a real talent in Balogun, who will become the latest in a long line of wonderkids Arsenal have lost in recent years.
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