Inter Milan will look at signing other targets as they believe a deal for Arsenal forward Folarin Balogun will be ”too expensive’ at this point.
Arsenal are in a tricky spot when it comes to the 22-year-old forward. Balogun is reluctant to spend another season out on loan and Mikel Arteta can’t promise him a starting spot in his Arsenal side.
The Gunners seem more than likely to cash in on the forward this summer, although no one is yet to match their £45m valuation.
Inter have already had a £34m bid rejected and according to Fabrizio Romano, the Italian side will now look at signing other targets.
“Inter have currently stopped talks for Folarin Balogun deal as USMNT striker is considered too expensive,” Romano explained on Twitter.
“Focus on Gianluca Scamacca deal, first bid rejected by West Ham but Inter will send new one soon.”
This could leave Arsenal in a tricky situation if they don’t receive any suitable offers for Balogun. He is contracted until 2025 and so the Gunners do have some wriggle room.
After scoring 21 goals in Ligue 1 last season, his value is at an all-time high right now and sitting on the bench at Arsenal won’t do him much good.
Ben Jacobs recently revealed that Arsenal wouldn’t mind sending Balogun out on loan again for the season, but the forward is not keen on the idea.
“Arsenal’s valuation for Balogun rightly so has gone up significantly and that is because he had a fantastic season last campaign and Balogun has made it clear, he’s said it on record that he’s not prepared to go out on loan,” Jacobs explained.
“Which is a shame for Arsenal because they are almost certain if Balogun said to [Mikel] Arteta, ‘Loan me out and I’ll come back in a year’, then that would be Arsenal’s preference.
“So, we now have to wait and see how that one is going to progress. It might have something in the region of £45m to make a deal for Balogun.”
The 22-year-old has featured in pre-season for Arsenal, although he is still behind Gabriel Jesus and arguably Eddie Nketiah in the pecking order.
If the Gunners don’t receive any suitable offers for the forward then they won’t be left with much of a choice, but there is still plenty of time left in the transfer window.
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