Arsenal braced for Folarin Balogun bidding war as Chelsea face competition

17 July 2023 , 15:55

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Folarin Balogun is in-demand this summer after impressing out on loan from Arsenal last season

Inter Milan are rivalling Chelsea in their transfer pursuit of Arsenal forward Folarin Balogun.

The West London club reportedly held talks with the player's representatives earlier this month regarding a move for the United States international. However, it now seems there is serious interest in the striker from the Champions League finalists.

It comes after Inter attempted to re-sign Romelu Lukaku from Chelsea for much of the summer. However, they now appear to be moving on in light of interest in the Belgium international emerging from Italian rivals Juventus. As for Balogun, AC Milan and RB Leipzig are other clubs keeping tabs after he scored 22 goals on loan in Ligue 1 last season. Marseille and Monaco also hold an interest in the 22-year-old.

Chelsea are, though, the only ones to have engaged in talks over a transfer and were the presumed frontrunners from the half-a-dozen clubs queuing to do a deal. But Sky Sports report serious interest from Inter exists in ascertaining how feasible a deal is. They add that no official offer is on the table at this stage with Inter viewing Balogun as a signing for the future rather than next season.

Their run to the Champions League final, in which they were beaten 1-0 by Manchester City, was spearheaded by a strikeforce of Edin Dzeko and Lautaro Martinez. While the former has stayed in Istanbul and signed for Fenerbache, the Italian giants have already signed France international Marcus Thuram on a free transfer as a like-for-like replacement.

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Balogun is playing for Arsenal during their pre-season friendlies

But if Lukaku does not return - after spending last season on loan in Milan - Joaquin Correa is their only other option up front, leaving them short of options. Lukaku does not seem to have a future at Stamford Bridge, even with Mauricio Pochettino arriving over the summer and with the new manager short of options since sanctioning the sale of Kai Havertz to Arsenal.

Christopher Nkunku and Nicolas Jackson have arrived to address the club's problems in attack while another alternative in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is not in Pochettino's plans. Armando Broja is approaching full fitness but has not played in almost a year after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament.

Gunners manager Mikel Arteta seems open to Balogun leaving the Emirates, saying during their pre-season tour of the United States that "we will see what happens" regarding the striker's future. The US international is a part of their travelling squad Stateside after debuting for the national team this summer. He was part of the CONCACAF Nations League-winning side, scoring the second goal during their 2-0 win over Canada in the final.

Matthew Abbott