USMNT goalkeeper Matt Turner thinks Arsenal team-mate Folarin Balogun would be a "great addition" to the national team amid speculation the striker is considering pledging his allegiance to Anthony Hudson's side.
Balogun is eligible to represent the United States team because he was born in New York. The striker made four appearances for the USA Under-18s - scoring twice - but has been a regular in the youth teams in England.
This season, the Gunners ace has been tipped to opt for the USMNT after seemingly being snubbed by Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate. Balogun has scored 18 goals in 29 games for Stade de Reims this season but only managed to be named in the Under-21s squad.
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Balogun's future at club and international level continues to provide unclear answers. He's been linked with a move away from the Emirates Stadium in the summer amid uncertainty over his playing status next season and his international situation remains uncertain.
Now, after USA interim boss Hudson admitted he was in "open dialogue" with the 21-year-old's representatives, fellow Gunners player Turner has admitted Balogun would only bolster the USMNT attack.
Speaking on Wednesday ahead of Friday's Nations League game with Grenada, Turner said: "I've spoken to Flo. We obviously had most of our preseason together and I knew going into it that he had some roots in the U.S., so he and I developed a relationship pretty quickly. That's pretty much the extent of it. We check in on each other here and there.
"He'd be a great addition to our national team. I think he's done really well, obviously, for his club on loan, and we'll see. The decision has to come from the heart because it's not necessarily an easy task always to come and play in these CONCACAF games. It's a tough region at times. So for us, we'd be really grateful to have him but his heart needs to be in it."
Balogun was due to feature for the England Under-21s this week against France and Croatia. However, the striker withdrew from the squad on Tuesday after picking up a suspected injury in Reims' 2-1 defeat to Marseille.
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