Arsenal put price on USMNT striker Folarin Balogun

The USMNT have got the No.9 they have been looking for. Folarin Balogun, who has just enjoyed a great season with France’s Stade Reims, finally chose to represent the United States rather than England. Balogun, who turned 22 on Monday, scored his first goal for the North Americans in last month’s Nations League final against Canada.

Contractually, Balogun still belongs to Arsenal. The Premier League club has already set a price for the American striker - a figure that any potential suitor must pay to secure the services of one of the top scorers in Ligue 1 last season.

Balogun, who is under contract at Arsenal until June 2025, scored 21 goals while out on loan at Stade Reims last season - the joint-fourth best figures in the French top flight behind Kylian Mbappé, Alexandre Lacazette and Jonathan David, and level with Lens’ Loïs Openda.

Arsenal value the North American at £50 million (approximately $64 million), and they are willing to sit down and negotiate with interested buyers, although according to Sky Sports, neither the player nor his agent are keen for another spell out on loan and would prefer a straight transfer to a club where Balogun can get regular playing time.

Balogun’s transfer options

Last month, British newspaper The Daily Mail reported that two big Italian clubs could soon be locked in a fight to sign Balogun. Inter and AC Milan are both keen to sign the Arsenal forward this summer.

According to The Athletic, several other clubs are also interested in Balogun - including RB Leipzig (who recently lost Christopher Nkunku to Chelsea), Olympique Marseille and Monaco, the latter two, both from the French league.

Balogun has another two years left to run on his contract with the Gunners. He grew up in London and spent several years making his way through the various youth categories at Arsenal. He would find it difficult to break into the current first team with Gabriel Jesús, Reiss Nelson and Eddie Nketiah all ahead of him.