Whilst the West Ham United newsfeeds are currently dominated by the transfer speculation surrounding midfield skipper Declan Rice, there are some other stories to be found on the rumour mill, and one of those concerns Arsenal youngster Florian Balogun.
According to recent reports this week, Arsenal have now told the 21 year old’s representatives to work on finding him a new club to move to after an offer to discuss a new contract was again rebuffed by the youngster, and it seems their patience has now finally run out.
There is something about the young lad, he impressed at Under 21 level for Arsenal as he came through their youth ranks, looked raw but worth sticking with during his initial first team appearances (two starts, eight substitute showings with a return of two goals) and although he did not set the world alight at Middlesbrough during a loan spell in the second half of the 2021/22 campaign, he chipped in with three goals in eleven starts and ten substitute showings at the Championship level.
He spent the full 2022/23 season out on a loan spell with French Ligue 1 side Reims, and he had a very good year indeed, scoring 21 times in 34 starts in their top flight, so not only is his stock very high at this moment in time, his performances out in France last year actually mean that only Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain), Alexandre Lacazette (Lyon) and Jonathan David (Lille) had better scoring records than the youngster last term.
Speaking recently after his experience out in France, the player made it pretty clear that he had no intention of going out on loan again next term – it seems he wants to put down roots and he has just switched his international allegiance from England to the United States (the country of his birth) presumably to improve his call up chances.
“What I can say is that I definitely won’t go on loan again. I’m not sure about the discussions that are going to take place, I’m not sure what’s going to happen.”
He will understandably have plenty of suitors depending on what valuation Arsenal place on him, but as a future project for David Moyes to work on, knowing he is already settled in London, you can see why we are being linked.
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