Chelsea can give Folarin Balogun what Arsenal can’t after £34m rejected transfer bid

Chelsea could tempt Folarin Balogun to make the switch across London from Arsenal to Stamford Bridge in the summer transfer window.

It comes as the Blues have been linked with a shock move for the USMNT international over the coming weeks, with reports claiming that initial talks have been held over a switch. football.london understands that Arsenal are open to an exit if the right price is tabled by another club.

The Gunners have fielded calls from plenty of interested parties this summer, with Inter Milan linked with a deal, while football.london understands that a £34.4million bid from Monaco has been rejected. The north Londoners could be open to negotiating a deal, but are confident of securing a club-record sale.

Balogun impressed in a loan deal with Reims last season, scoring on a regular basis in Ligue 1 before he made a switch on the international scene from England to USA. The youngster has made a clear intention of playing high-level football on a regular basis as soon as possible.

That won’t be on offer with the Gunners it seems though, with Balogun missing out on the squad to face Nottingham Forest last weekend. football.london understands that the decision made was a selection one, rather than the striker missing out for injury or fitness reasons.

With his ambitions clear, Chelsea could offer match time to Balogun on a more regular basis than Arsenal when it comes to negotiating a transfer. The Blues currently have Nicolas Jackson as their only striker option, with Armando Broja and Christopher Nkunku out of action.

With Balogun showing plenty of promise, it could prove to be a bargain for Chelsea, who may finally have a solution to their striker issues.