Arsenal have reluctantly decided to let Folarin Balogun leave the club on loan in January – but any side he joins will not be offered the chance to make the deal permanent.
Balogun was facing an uncertain future at Arsenal approaching last summer, but he committed to the club for the long term. However, he is having to be patient for a genuine breakthrough at senior level.
After making six appearances in cup competitions last season, he has played just three times for the first team this term. He finds himself behind Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette in the pecking order up front.
Furthermore, Gabriel Martinelli and Eddie Nketiah are also vying for a place in the same position. However, Nketiah has rejected an offer of a contract extension and is also looking to leave.
Balogun himself has been pushing Mikel Arteta to offer him more game time. And if that’s not the case, he’s made it clear that he wants to be allowed to leave on loan instead.
Now, according to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, the Gunners have decided to let Balogun depart. Despite ongoing doubts on the future of Lacazette and Nketiah, they will let the England U21 hitman leave in a short-term deal.
Short-term Championship move on
The Gunners have no desire to give his suitors the option to make the move permanent. Instead, it will be stipulated that Balogun will return to Emirates Stadium at the end of the arrangement.
The 20-year-old will now discuss with his agent as well as Arsenal’s management which club to sign for.
Indeed, Football.London reports that three Championship sides are in the mix to acquire Balogun’s services.
They report that Middlesbrough, Swansea and Millwall are the trio in contention.
Only three points separate the sides in the Championship and all three will have aspirations about mounting a push for the play-offs.
Ultimately, it will all come down to game-time for Balogun and whose playing style suits him best. As such, the trio will all pitch…
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