Arsenal will decide on Folarin Balogun's future at the end of the current campaign if recent reports are to be believed.
Balogun is currently on loan at Ligue 1 outfit Reims and the young striker is enjoying a hugely productive season in the French top flight. The 21-year-old has netted 14 league goals already this term, currently the division's top scorer, ahead of the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi.
Despite Gabriel Jesus' serious injury, transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has reported that the Gunners never considered cutting short the young forward's loan spell during the January transfer window. “Arsenal never thought of Balogun back in January, they wanted to protect him as Reims loan has been an excellent decision,” Romano told Caught Offside.
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“Some Italian clubs wanted Balogun in July and also two Premier League clubs and Borussia Monchengladbach but France was the best option. Arsenal will decide his future in May/June, not now.”
According to The Sun, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is yet to decide on the player's future at the club, with Balogun potentially staying in north London for the first-half of next season to see if he can make the jump to the intensity of the Premier League. If he is unable to replicate his form for the Gunners, it is said that he could then be sent out on loan again to further his development.
The New York-born youngster set himself a target of 20 goals for the season whilst also admitting that Arsenal remains his home. "Arsenal is my family," he said.
"But I've spent my whole career in England and I knew it was going to be a different test when I came to Reims. I didn't know the language and I'm still trying to learn, but it was important for me to step out of my comfort zone and challenge myself.
"That's the reason I'm here and hopefully it's a decision that will pay off for me. I've already reached my target for the start of the season and now I want to do even better and I'm hoping to score 20 goals."
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