The striker department continues to be a position of debate at Arsenal. The club have seen both Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah help the club fight with Manchester City for the Premier League title despite very few, if any, believing that would be the case.
It cannot be forgotten the contribution that Leandro Trossard has made either. The £27million acquisition from Brighton in the January transfer window has been a storming success and one many feel deserves more minutes and see little surprise in the four matches the Gunners have failed to win since he was dropped from the starting XI.
However, there’s scope for improvement and perhaps to reach the next level and better compete with Man City and Erling Haaland next season, Arsenal need to find a more regular goal scorer that can partner Jesus and create a dynamic to create a higher goal tally. One option is already on the books at the club but there’s been significant talk of his potential departure, Folarin Balogun.
READ MORE: Gabriel Jesus set for big Arsenal role change in bold Mikel Arteta transfer plan for £105m star
Several clubs are on the lookout for forwards this summer and after a high-scoring season in Ligue 1 on loan at Reims, plus his standing in the Arsenal squad, it would be unsurprisingly to see these teams look to the England youth international. One such club many thought might push for Balogun was Brighton.
Having relied upon Danny Welbeck and previously Trossard, the Seagulls saw the Belgian replaced with the exciting young talent of Evan Ferguson. Yet there remained scope for reinforcement but a £30million deal for Watford’s Joao Pedro looks to have filled that spot according to Sky Sports.
With a record signing through the door, it seems unlikely that Brighton would be a suitor for Balogun. With the Premier League’s dark horses out of the race, its reason to have greater hope that Balogun might be part of the striking group at the club next season.
However, there remain clubs on the continent such as Inter Milan, RB Leipzig, Marseille and Lille among others, football.london understands, who have an interest in the striker. Mikel Arteta spoke in February of his happiness for Balogun but made no hint to a place for the player next season.
“I’m so happy for him,” Arteta said. “He’s a boy with a really clear idea of what he wants to do in his career. Really ambitious, really committed and he’s really brave.
"We discussed before whether it was the right place to go and other choices that he had. He was so convinced and I’m really happy for him because he deserves what he’s getting.”
READ NEXT:
Edu urged to complete £70m Arsenal transfer and sign Thomas Partey 'upgrade'
Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke confirmed to land £35m windfall after Man City defeat
Mikel Arteta's Jakub Kiwior decision shows where Arsenal must improve amid Man City gap claim
Latest Arsenal injury news as three miss Chelsea with William Saliba update
Mikel Arteta has four Arsenal team changes for Chelsea that must be made to revive title form
