At last! Folarin Balogun agrees transfer away from Arsenal as Monaco close on deal for USMNT star

The 22-year-old striker has been linked with clubs across Europe during the current window – with teams from England, France, Italy and Germany all casting admiring glances in his direction. No deal has been done as Arsenal have been holding out for a fee above the £40 million ($51m) mark.

Sky Sports report that Monaco are ready to put a package in place that meets the Gunners’ demands, with personal terms already agreed with Balogun in principle. Any deal there will see the USMNT star return to French football – with 21 goals recorded during a productive loan spell at Ligue 1 side Reims last season.

Further talks are planned between Monaco and Arsenal, with a payment structure needing to be put in place. With the player keen to secure a switch, as he targets regular first team-team football in 2023-24, the expectation is that a compromise will be reached before the summer deadline.

Balogun is under contract at Arsenal until 2025, but he faces competition for places in north London from the likes of Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah – meaning that he was always likely to move on in the current window.