Folarin Balogun has well and truly made a name for himself this season. The Arsenal loanee currently has more Ligue 1 goals than Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi and Alexandre Lacazette with an astounding 14 goals for Stade de Reims.
The 21-year-old's form in Europe has surprised many across the football industry following a difficult loan spell with Middlesbrough in the Championship last season. After the summer signing of Gabriel Jesus, Balogun's services were deemed temporary surplus to requirements for the 2022/23 season and a move to France was sealed.
And the move to Reims, who are managed by Englishman William Still, has proven to be smart business for both the player and club. Balogun’s astonishing displays in France have not gone unnoticed by Mikel Arteta, despite seeing his side lead the way at the top of the Premier League.
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"So happy for him. He's a boy with a really clear idea of what he wants to do in his career," the Gunners boss said. "Really ambitious, really committed and he's really brave. We discussed before whether it was the right place to go [on loan to Reims] and other choices that he had. He was so convinced and I'm really happy for him because he deserves what he's getting.
"I’m very pleased and obviously when you look at the numbers and what he’s doing it’s just incredible, and very rare to see that. But he’s got something special, that’s why we gave him a long-term contract and have faith in him and give him the long period that he’s having now, because the period he’s having now is different to the one before at Middlesbrough."
In January, there were suggestions that the Gunners were considering recalling Balogun after Gabriel Jesus sustained a long-term knee injury during the World Cup. However, Arteta claimed the striker's situation would be assessed in the summer.
But what do Arsenal do in the summer? Eddie Nketiah's splendid job in Jesus' place has meant that Arsenal will have three quality strikers at their disposal. However, it's unlikely that Arteta will alter his 4-3-3 system to accompany two No. 9s, meaning a positional issue is on the horizon.
However, clubs across Europe will watch the situation at London Colney with eagle eyes and Balogun's services are expected to be highly contested at the end of the season. According to the Daily Mail, Serie A holders AC Milan have renewed their interest in the striker.
It's claimed that Marseille and Villarreal are also interested in the New York-born striker over a summer move. Balogun has two years remaining on his deal at the Emirates Stadium and faces an uncertain role to play at the club next season.
Whatever happens this season for Arsenal, it's going to be a vital summer transfer window in how the club continue their upwards trajectory.
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