Chelsea 'enter talks with Folarin Balogun's agent' as they join the race for Arsenal striker
Chelsea has reportedly initiated discussions with Arsenal's Folarin Balogun as they continue their search for a new center forward. The 22-year-old impressed during a loan spell at Reims last season, scoring an impressive 21 goals in 27 Ligue 1 appearances. Born in New York, Balogun recently committed his international future to the United States and scored his first senior goal against Canada.
Balogun's performances have attracted interest from clubs across Europe, including AC Milan, Inter Milan, Marseille, Monaco, and RB Leipzig. However, there is now a possibility that Balogun could remain in London, as reports suggest Chelsea has entered into talks with the promising striker.
Arsenal has set a £50 million price tag on Balogun, who is expected to leave the club this summer in search of regular game time. Despite being with the Gunners since the age of seven, Balogun has made only 10 senior appearances and spent the second half of the 2021/22 season on loan at Middlesbrough before his successful stint at Reims.
If Balogun does make the switch to Chelsea, he would provide a welcome goal-scoring option for a team that struggled in attack last season. The Blues were one of the lowest-scoring teams in the Premier League, and their top scorer, Kai Havertz, has departed for Arsenal. Mauricio Pochettino, the newly appointed Chelsea manager, has made some promising signings in Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku, but they are versatile forwards who can play in multiple positions rather than traditional number nines.
There have been indications that Pochettino is open to reintegrating Romelu Lukaku into the squad after his loan spell at Inter Milan. Lukaku has expressed a desire to stay at Stamford Bridge, but selling him now would likely result in a significant financial loss for Chelsea. Pochettino has emphasized the need to add more quality to the squad and has indicated that further signings may be on the horizon.
While Lukaku's situation remains uncertain, Pochettino has expressed that if he returns to Chelsea, he expects him to report for preseason training. The manager has highlighted the positive attitude and commitment of the players and expressed his desire to continue strengthening the squad.
The potential acquisition of Balogun would bolster Chelsea's attacking options and provide Pochettino with more goal-scoring prowess. As negotiations progress between the two London clubs, football fans will eagerly await updates on the outcome of these talks and how Chelsea's forward line shapes up for the upcoming season.
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