According to Dorset Live, Bournemouth are in pole position to secure the services of Folarin Balogun. The young forward is expected to leave Arsenal in the upcoming January transfer window on a short-term loan deal. Balogun was courted by several clubs across Europe including Saint-Etienne and Swansea, but it appears the Cherries have emerged as the likely suitors.
Folarin Balogun’s Struggles At Arsenal
A product of the Arsenal academy since 2011, Folarin Balogun has been one of the most talented players to come out of the youth setup in recent years. He belongs to a large pool of academy talents that include the likes of Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe and Joe Willock.
Balogun, though, has not been as successful as the three, struggling to even make himself a part of Mikel Arteta’s first-team plans.
A centre-forward by trade, the 20-year-old made his professional breakthrough last season when he scored two goals in five appearances in the UEFA Europa League. But he wasn’t a part of Arsenal’s Premier League squad while he was also not utilised by Arteta in the knockout stages.
It has been a similar story this season, with the Englishman featuring in just 70 minutes of league action. He has been largely restricted to the reserve team, which is simply not acceptable for a player of his calibre.
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The Right Move For The Youngster?
A January move to Bournemouth could make a world of sense for Folarin Balogun. Despite the state of the Arsenal side, it appears unlikely that he has any immediate future at Emirates, so a move elsewhere should help him gain some vital experience in professional football.
Bournemouth, in particular, could be an excellent destination as manager Scott Parker is actively looking for a striker who can compete with Dominic Solanke. Although the former Liverpool starlet has performed incredibly well with 16 goals so far, the presence of Balogun could hand him some much-needed insurance in regards to his offensive depth.
The Arsenal youngster also offers a lot of versatility to the table as he can operate out wide. It means the 20-year-old can operate alongside Solanke, if required, making him an ideal investment for the club.
As for Arsenal, Balogun’s short little loan spell could help him gain experience in the Championship before he returns to Emirates in the summer as an improved striker. Hence, the move makes sense for all parties involved.
