Explained: Why Arsenal want USMNT star Folarin Balogun to break club record in summer transfer window

The United States international striker was expected to have been on the move by now having made it clear that he wanted regular first team football again in 2023-24. He got a taste of that when netting 21 goals during a productive loan spell at Ligue 1 side Reims last season.

Interest has been shown in the 22-year-old from across Europe, with Inter and Monaco said to have seen offers knocked back. Chelsea, Fulham and West Ham are still keen, but Arsenal’s asking price is making a deal difficult. It has been suggested that the Gunners are looking for up to £50 million ($64m) for Balogun.

He may end up going for less than that, but football.london reports that Arsenal are determined to bring in a club-record fee from any deal. As things stand, the Gunners’ record sale saw Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain join Liverpool for around £35m ($45m) in 2017.

Arsenal are aware that Balogun’s valuation will drop if he does not move before the next deadline and runs further into the final two years of his contract, while he also needs games and goals – as he got in 2022-23 – in order for interest in his services to remain high.