Chelsea have reached an agreement on personal terms with Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun, and discussions are ongoing between the two clubs to settle on a transfer fee, as reported by journalist Steve Key of the Football Transfers.
Balogun is currently in high demand as one of the world’s sought-after forwards, thanks to his impressive goal-scoring performances at Reims last season.
He netted 22 goals and provided three assists in 39 appearances across all competitions, helping Reims secure an 11th-place finish in Ligue 1.
Balogun has just two years left on his Arsenal contract and appears to be outside of Mikel Arteta’s first-team plans for the upcoming season.
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The US star is seeking regular first-team action, which he is unlikely to find in North London, given the competition from Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz, and Eddie Nketiah. Consequently, he is expected to depart the club this month.
During the summer, Arsenal turned down an offer from Monaco as it didn’t meet the club’s valuation of the young striker. Football Transfers reports that Arsenal are seeking £50 million for Balogun.
This situation has drawn interest from several European clubs, with Chelsea being the latest to express interest.
According to the report, the Blues have reached an agreement on personal terms with Balogun and are in negotiations with the Gunners to strike a deal.
However, Chelsea are reluctant to meet Arsenal’s asking price and is aiming for a fee closer to £30 million. It’s unlikely that Arsenal will lower their valuation, especially for a close rival like Chelsea, so there is still work to be done before a deal can be reached.
Chelsea have already added two forwards to their squad this summer with the signings of Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku. However, Nkunku is set to be sidelined for several months due to knee surgery.
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Jackson is currently Chelsea’s only striker, as academy graduate Armando Broja has yet to make the match-day squad in the club’s first two games of the season.
The West London side has only scored two goals this season, and none of them came from an attacker. As a result, manager Mauricio Pochettino is actively looking to bring in another forward.
Balogun is a player of interest, but it’s uncertain whether Chelsea will be able to reach an agreement with Arsenal for the 22-year-old this summer.
