London, July 26, 2023 – Folarin Balogun, the 22-year-old Arsenal striker, has found himself isolated from his teammates during the Gunners’ pre-season tour in the United States.
As rumors of an imminent exit gather momentum, the young talent has been training separately ahead of their clash against Barcelona in Los Angeles on Wednesday night, reports The Mirror.
Balogun, who made sporadic appearances in pre-season friendlies, was conspicuously unused in Arsenal’s recent defeat to Manchester United in New Jersey. The situation has led to growing speculation about his future with the club.
The competition for a starting spot in Arsenal’s attacking lineup has intensified, with the arrival of Kai Havertz adding to the strength-in-depth alongside Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah.
Leandro Trossard, signed in January, has bolstered the wide options, joining Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka, with Reiss Nelson also committing to a new contract.
Arsenal values Balogun at £50m, and Inter Milan has emerged as one of the clubs expressing interest in acquiring the young striker. Gazzetta dello Sport reports that after unsuccessful negotiations for Romelu Lukaku, Inter Milan is now eyeing Balogun as a potential target.
A potential deal for Alvaro Morata has also been in the works, but Inter Milan appears to have put it on hold, shifting their focus to Balogun.
The young Arsenal forward presents an attractive option due to his lower wages and considerable potential for growth at his tender age, unlike Morata, who is approaching the latter stages of his career.
The departure of Lukaku, following the end of his loan spell, and Edin Dzeko’s move to Fenerbahce have left Inter Milan in search of a new striker to pair with Lautaro Martinez in their successful 3-5-2 system that led them to the Champions League final last season.
Balogun made a significant impact during his loan spell at Reims in Ligue 1 during the 2022-23 season, scoring an impressive 21 goals in 37 league games. His impressive performances earned him international honors, with a crucial goal in the final of the Nations League helping the USMNT secure victory earlier this summer.