Inter Milan Set to Make Fresh Move for Arsenal Star Folarin Balogun
Inter Milan are reportedly preparing to make a renewed bid for Arsenal’s young striker Folarin Balogun. The Italian giants had initially targeted Romelu Lukaku from Chelsea but were left disappointed when the Belgian opted for a move to Juventus instead. As a result, Inter turned their attention to Balogun, who is open to a transfer due to limited first-team opportunities at Arsenal.
Balogun, 22, enjoyed a successful loan spell at Reims last season, scoring an impressive 22 goals in 39 games. However, he currently finds himself behind Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah in the pecking order at Arsenal. Manager Mikel Arteta is willing to sell the USA international but only for the right price, which is believed to be between £40-50 million.
Initially, Inter Milan was put off by Arsenal’s valuation and shifted their focus to West Ham’s Gianluca Scamacca. However, Scamacca ultimately chose to join Atalanta, leaving Inter Milan without a striker signing. As a result, Inter has revived their interest in Balogun and is preparing a bid worth around £25 million, with add-ons potentially taking it up to £30 million. The offer still falls short of Arsenal’s valuation, but Inter Milan is confident that they can negotiate a fee closer to their expectations.
However, Inter Milan faces competition from West Ham, who are also interested in Balogun as a potential replacement for Scamacca. Arsenal’s desire to trim their squad and balance the books after a summer of heavy spending further complicates Inter’s pursuit of Balogun.
Balogun is currently sidelined with a foot injury but is expected to return in time for Arsenal’s opening Premier League game against Nottingham Forest. The young striker has shown promise and potential, and his availability has attracted interest from several clubs.
Arsenal has already spent over £200 million this summer and is looking to offload some players to reduce their squad size. Balogun’s potential departure would help Arsenal achieve this goal while also generating funds for future transfers.
In conclusion, Inter Milan is ready to make a fresh move for Arsenal star Folarin Balogun after missing out on their initial target. Balogun’s limited playing time at Arsenal has made him open to a transfer, and Inter Milan sees him as a potential solution to their striker needs. However, Arsenal’s valuation of Balogun remains a stumbling block, and competition from West Ham adds further complications to the situation. It remains to be seen if Inter Milan can reach an agreement with Arsenal and secure the services of Balogun.