Little over four weeks after my update on Arsenal forward Folarin Balogun’s club future, it appears the United Status international – 22 earlier this month – could be nearing a permanent switch to Italy, if this weekend’s reports are to be believed. Inter are favourites for his signature after their Romelu Lukaku pursuit went cold, though they’re attempting to whittle his price down.
Nerazzurri nearing Balogun move, keen to bolster frontline
- Balogun scored 21 goals – only bettered by three others – with three assists as Reims finished five points and a place better off than 2021-22 under first-year head coach Will Still, despite losing six of their last eight
- Champions League finalists Inter have reportedly agreed terms with the 22-year-old, who has already made it clear he wants regular first-team football in 2023-24 – north London, or elsewhere permanently
- 20-21 Serie A champions eyeing Porto’s Mehdi Taremi and Atletico forward Alvaro Morata on striker shortlist should they prove unsuccessful in Balogun approach after Lukaku negotiations rapidly went cold
The timing of Romelu Lukaku’s second Inter spell startled many but was supposed to be a triumphant one, yet the Belgian international scored a modest 14 goals and created seven assists in 37 appearances across all competitions last term.
Hamstring and thigh muscle injures kept him sidelined from late August until after the World Cup, where he played but was noticeably not 100% fit as Roberto Martinez’s men underwhelmed in a painful group stage exit.
Up until this past week, Inter and Chelsea were negotiating what both parties would deem a fair transfer fee for Lukaku to remain in Milan on a permanent basis. He stayed away and this, after all, was a season-long loan with no buy option inserted.
His head has reportedly been turned by Europa League semifinalists Juventus, who find themselves in a transitional period after domestic domination for most of the last decade: three different sides have claimed the Scudetto post-lockdown.
A smattering of the club’s local supporter base have already publicly made their discontent at this speculation obvious, though Inter by contrast are moving onto other attacking targets in the interim and this approach makes sense.
Inter’s youthful approach to their transfer business
They’re going younger with acquisitions and doing more shrewd business as a consequence, rather than spending excess money on splashy signings which serve to only amplify their small margin for error among continental rivals.
Gabriel Barbosa (£25.5m), Eddie Salcedo (£8.5m), Andrea Pinamonti (£18m) are just a trio of promising young players who failed to live up to the billing at Inter since 2016-17, for different reasons, but their youth-centric movement remains.
Highly-rated midfielder Davide Frattesi (23), Germany U21 centre-back Yann Aurel Bisseck (22), and Albanian midfielder Kristjan Asllani (21) all joined this summer for a combined £20m as the squad’s core gets younger.
Marcelo Brozovic, Milan Skriniar and Edin Dzeko are among those more experienced players to have departed for pastures new, but there’s a clear plan for the future.
Meanwhile, France forward Marcus Thuram ignored interest elsewhere in Europe to agree a five-year contract on a free transfer from Borussia Monchengladbach.
That’s where Balogun comes into the picture. Lautaro Martinez has been linked with a Premier League move for each of the past three seasons, yet continues racking up career-best stats in different categories – imagine the 22-year-old learning from him?
Given his development, the potential to further flourish abroad is exciting and creative possibilities are endless, both in a two-striker formation or operating off the flank in a 4-3-3 (Balogun-Martinez-Thuram) as he did at U23 level when called upon.
July 18, update
The Athletic ran a piece on Monday confirming talks have taken place with the player’s representatives while also saying Arsenal’s valuation of Balogun is £50m, more than the €40m (£34.3m) that was initially floated over the past two months.
This quote, taken from an interview with Jordan Campbell, speaks to his increased self-belief at a time where his parent club need all their first-team players to feel the increased challenge for places. No-one has the luxury of any guarantees.
“I obviously went away and the point was to prove I could play first-team football. I feel I was able to do that, show people I can play at that level.
I think with me coming back it’s not really much of a situation where I think I can need to try extra hard to prove something, it’s a decision that’s not really with me. Whatever happens, I’m cool with it.”
Judging by the language in the above quote, it wouldn’t be surprising if he left – but time is ticking and Arsenal can’t afford to get this decision wrong.
Picture source: Getty Images
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