Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun has been tipped to play in the Champions League next season after his impressive loan with Stade de Reims.
The striker has scored 19 goals in 35 games in France this season, becoming one of the most high-profile strikers in Europe. Balogun is due to return to London Colney at the end of the season, with the club expected to hold crunch talks with the striker over his future.
It's understood that Balogun will seek a permanent move away form north London if he is not guaranteed regular opportunities by Mikel Arteta next season.
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AC Milan, RB Leipzig and Marseille have all been credited with interest, alongside a host of Premier League clubs.
Balogun's odds of becoming a regular at the Emirates Stadium next season seem very small with Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah taking up positions in Arteta's attack. With very little Premier League experience, the 21-year-old is in line to complete a permanent move elsewhere and make a name for himself.
Former Arsenal and Manchester United defender Mikael Silvestre has claimed the striker is ready to take on Europe's elite in the Champions League. "Folarin Balogun has proven this year in Ligue 1 that he’s ready. He’s taken his chances and his confidence has grown," he told bettingexpert.com.
“He’s ready for European football at the highest level which is the Champions League. He needs to go where he’s going to play and start. He just needs to find the place where he’s wanted as a number one.”
“Italy and England would be good destinations for him.”
John Barnes has seconded Silvestre's prediction on Balogun's future, with the former England international doubting his chances of making it at Arsenal. “Balogun is doing really well for Reims because the way they are playing suits him very well," he said speaking to bettingexpert.com. "But just because he is doing well for Reims that doesn’t mean he all of a sudden will come back to England and perform in the same way.”
“Tammy Abraham is doing well at Roma and Smalling as well because they are playing a kind of football that suits them, which is what matters.”
“So, just because he is doing well overseas doesn’t mean that he will come back to Arsenal and play instead of Jesus or Nketiah.”
“I think he should either stay there or move to a club that suits him very well and I don’t necessarily think that he is going back to Arsenal."
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