Folarin Balogun appears to have hinted his Arsenal exit is near after posting a cryptic message to Twitter amid speculation over his future.
The 21-year-old Gunners academy graduate enjoyed a sensational loan spell at Ligue 1 side Reims last term, which has in turn put him on the radar of some of European football's biggest clubs. After a 21-goal haul last season, Arsenal are well aware they have a gem on their hands.
However, even though Balogun has shown he can score on a regular basis, the odds of consistent first-team football at the Emirates next season are low. Therefore, the Gunners are rumoured to have placed a £35million price tag on him and told the striker he can leave if that valuation is met.
Given there is a healthy portion of Arsenal fans who would rather the club kept hold of Balogun, that news is alarming enough. Balogun's latest tweet will only increase their headaches as he hints at his next move.
The forward, who kept his location on to show that he was tweeting from Enfield, posted an egg-timer emoji before adding: "It is time!"
This sparked a plethora of panicked responses from fans wondering if this meant Balogun had found his new club. He is yet to divulge any more information, but it looks as if Gunners boss Mikel Arteta will have to say goodbye to the forward in the coming weeks.
HAVE YOUR SAY! Are Arsenal making a mistake by letting Balogun leave? Comment below
With Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah, both deemed higher in the pecking order than Balogun, even with the added weight of Champions League fixtures, it seems as if first-team minutes would be limited for a third-choice option.
A number of clubs across the continent have been linked with a move for the USA international, including Italian giants AC Milan and Ligue 1 titans Marseille.
Arteta discussed Balogun at great length back in February of this year and spoke glowingly of the youngster, claiming: “I’m so happy for him.
"He’s a boy that has a really clear idea of what he wants to do with his career. He’s really ambitious, really committed and really brave.
“We discussed a lot before he made that move whether it was the right place to go [Reims] and the other choices he had. He was so convinced. I’m really happy for him because he deserves what he’s getting."
As mentioned by Arteta, Balogun's ambition is undeniable and it is that same mindset that means he will not settle for being a bit-part player at the Emirates any longer.
