Arsenal forward Folarin Balogun has been at the centre of transfer speculation throughout the summer.
Despite constant rumours linking him with a move away, Balogun remains at Arsenal as we enter the finbal stages of the summer transfer window, but his long-term future at the club remains uncertain. After featuring in the opening pre-season friendlies, he has not been included in Mikel Arteta's recent matchday squads, indicating that the 22-year-old may not have a significant role to play this season.
Several sides have expressed interest in signing Balogun, but so far, none have reached Arsenal's valuation for the USA international, who has long been compared to Gunners and England star Bukayo Saka. According to football.london, Inter Milan's bid failed to match the Arsenal's £50million ($64m) valuation while AS Monaco have also seen an approach turned down.
One former American striker, Eric Wynalda, has suggested that Balogun should consider a move to Newcastle United. Wynalda believes that Balogun should stay in the Premier League even if he waves goodbye to the Emirates.
He told Action Network: "I would like to see Folarin Balogun remain in the Premier League. He is a talented player with a lot of potential, and I think he would be a good fit for a number of clubs in the league.
"Newcastle United, Aston Villa, Brighton & Hove Albion, Crystal Palace are all clubs that are looking to strengthen their attacking options, and they would all be able to offer Balogun regular playing time. I think it would be good for Balogun to stay in the Premier League."It is the best league in the world, and it would give him the opportunity to test himself against the best players in the world. It would also give him the chance to play in the Champions League, which is a dream for many young players."
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Newcastle, however, already have Callum Wilson and Aleksander Isak as their attacking options, while Aston Villa boast a proven goalscorer in Ollie Watkins. But Balogun's impressive record while on loan at French side Reims last season showed he is capable of thriving in top leagues.
The forward netted 22 goals in 39 appearances before returning to north London. Balogun also made his senior debut for the USA earlier this year and scored on his second international appearance.
Meanwhile, another Arsenal player close to completing a move away is Marquinhos, the Brazilian winger. He is expected to go out on loan for the upcoming season, with Ligue 1 side Nantes being the likely destination.
The loan deal does not include an option to make the move permanent. The 20-year-old has struggled to establish himself with the Gunners, and a full season of regular playing time in France could be crucial for his development.
The hope at Arsenal is that he can impress during his loan spell and either return to the club as a valuable squad member or be sold for a profit. Ligue 1 presents a challenging environment for Marquinhos, but he will be looking to follow in the footsteps of Balogun, who had a successful stint there.
Arteta's decision to send Marquinhos on loan mirrors the strategy employed with William Saliba, who spent time on loan in France and has now become an important player for the Spanish head coach.
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