In the heat of last summer, Premier League rivals Arsenal loaned young striker Balogun, aged just 21, to Ligue 1 club Reims. The England U21 international scored 18 goals in 29 league games, just one behind Paris Saint-Germain superstar Kylian Mbappe. However, Arsenal FC are planning to sell him this summer and have bid a transfer fee of £27 million (HK$260 million), a price tag that has attracted the attention of many European giants.
A former Arsenal youth product, Balogan had only made two previous appearances in the Premier League. Unexpectedly, he has shone on the Ligue 1 stage, scoring more goals this season than even PSG king Lionel Messi. Arsenal boss Arteta is said to believe that the team's current competition up front is so fierce that even if Balrogaan returns next season, he may struggle to get much of a chance to play.
More crucially, with only two years left on his contract, Balogan has made it clear that he has no intention of renewing his contract and is unwilling to go through the on-loan ordeal again, clearly holding out for a move. As a result, Arsenal have decided to look for a buyer in the hope of completing the deal this summer. As Arsenal's offer is not too high, it has been revealed that Serie A giants AC Milan are interested in acquiring him as a potential successor to 36-year-old veteran Keogh.
