Inter Milan Set to Pursue Arsenal Striker Folarin Balogun After Lukaku Talks Collapse
Inter Milan is reportedly turning their attention to Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun after talks with Chelsea to sign Romelu Lukaku fell through. The Champions League finalists had been negotiating a fee with Chelsea for Lukaku but the Belgian forward had a change of heart and stopped communicating with Inter’s directors. It is now believed that Lukaku is in talks with Juventus, prompting Inter Milan to withdraw from negotiations with Chelsea.
However, Inter Milan is wasting no time in finding a new target and has set their sights on Folarin Balogun. According to reports from Gazzetta dello Sport, Balogun is the preferred choice of Inter’s recruitment team. The young American international had an impressive season on loan at Reims in Ligue 1, scoring 21 goals. He fits the profile of the type of young and emerging player that Inter Milan wants to sign.
Inter Milan had been scouting Balogun as a potential future replacement for Edin Dzeko if they were able to sign Lukaku this summer. Now that the Lukaku deal has fallen through, Inter Milan is ready to accelerate their plans and secure a deal with Arsenal for Balogun. The Italian club had initially been prepared to spend around £34 million on Lukaku and it is believed they will offer a similar price for Balogun. However, there is a possibility that they may be willing to go slightly higher given Balogun’s age, lower salary demands, and higher resale potential.
Fabrizio Romano, a transfer expert, has reported that Inter Milan will speak to Arsenal early next week about a potential deal. It is believed that Arsenal is open to cashing in on Balogun, especially considering their massive summer spending spree of £210 million. Manager Mikel Arteta has left the door open for Balogun to remain with the club, but with the need to sell fringe players to balance the books, a move for Balogun seems likely.
In Arsenal’s first pre-season friendly against Nurnberg, Balogun impressed with his performance. Arteta acknowledged his talent and stated that Balogun is staying with the club for now, but they will see what happens in the future. However, Inter Milan manager Simone Inzaghi is said to prefer a more established striker and is considering other options such as Alvaro Morata from Atletico Madrid and Mehdi Taremi.
It remains to be seen whether Inter Milan will be successful in their pursuit of Balogun, but the young striker’s potential and impressive goal-scoring record make him an attractive target. As negotiations between Inter Milan and Arsenal progress, fans will be eagerly awaiting updates on this potential transfer.
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In conclusion, Inter Milan’s failed talks with Chelsea for Romelu Lukaku have led them to pursue Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun. The young American international is the preferred choice of Inter Milan’s recruitment team and fits their profile of a young and emerging player. With talks set to begin between Inter Milan and Arsenal, it remains to be seen whether a deal can be reached. Fans will be eagerly awaiting updates on this potential transfer.