Folarin Balogun's services have become popular at club and international level this season. The Arsenal striker's loan spell at Stade Reims has attracted interest from various clubs ahead of the summer but it's his allegiance at national team level that is the talk of the town right now.
Following a disappointing loan spell with Middlesbrough last season, the 21-year-old ventured out to Europe in the summer in search of regular first team minutes in Ligue 1. Balogun has scored 18 goals in 29 appearances for Reims - outscored by only Kylian Mbappe and Jonathan David.
But despite his astonishing form in France, Balogun has continued to be overlooked by England boss Gareth Southgate. The striker has been a regular at under-21 level in recent years but his exclusion from the Three Lions senior squad has accelerated rumours he will eventually represent the USMNT.
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Balogun is eligible to play for the United States after being born in New York 21 years ago. He previously played at youth level five years ago when he was 17 and speculation tipping him to pledge his international allegiance to the USMNT has grown in recent months.
This month, after withdrawing from England under-21s due to injury, the striker was pictured in Orlando taking part in a gruesome individual training session. And on Thursday, he was seen attending the NBA clash with Orlando Magic and New York Knicks.
Despite posting a couple of social media hints of his visit to the States, his appearance at the Amway Center has confirmed fans' theory that he has travelled across the pond. The Magic took to Twitter to welcome the striker on Thursday night with a picture of the Hale Ender and Orlando's forward Jonathan Isaac.
Alongside the tweet, there was an image of Balogun holding an Orlando Magic jersey with his name and the number nine printed on the back. Arsenal, of course, already have a number 9 in Gabriel Jesus so the shirt number may be a difficult one for him to acquire at the Emirates Stadium.
However, it does hint at his possible desire to leave the Gunners and seek to be a club's first choice striker. It's understood that Balogun's future will be considered at the end of the season amid interest from AC Milan.
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