Inter Milan are ‘annoyed’ by Arsenal’s negotiating tactics during talks over Folarin Balogun with the Premier League giants asking for a fee in excess of £40 million.
You might have heard the phrase ‘pure profit’ quite a bit recently. Especially in conjunction with Arsenal and Folarin Balogun.
The USA international is an Arsenal academy graduate, having enrolled in one of European football’s most fabled academies at the age of just eight.
And, given how Financial Fair Play works, the Gunners would benefit immensely from selling a player who ticks that ‘pure profit’ box. In short, he arrived for nothing and will leave for a huge profit, allowing Arsenal to reinvest that windfall without having to meet any re-sale clauses given that Balogun has no previous employer.
Arsenal striker Folarin Balogin in Inter Milan talks
Despite turning down a £35 million bid from Monaco, the expectation is that Balogun will still be sold before September 1st.
But the chances of Balogun leaving Arsenal for Inter Milan appear to be ‘cooling’, to borrow Tuttomercatoweb’s choice of phrase. They say that, despite extensive talks, an agreement between the two clubs is no closer.
Inter reportedly believe that Arsenal have altered their demands; Mikel Arteta’s side now want a minimum of £40 million. An approach which has ‘greatly annoyed’ the 2023 Champions League runners-up.
Their spending power limited by FFP pressures, Inter could now turn a more affordable, albeit far less exciting option. Bologna veteran Marko Arnautovic is an option. Ditto Porto’s Mehdi Taremi.
Do not rule out a late swoop for Manchester United’s injury-prone Antony Martial either. The Frenchman is now Erik ten Hag’s third choice number nine, behind Marcus Rashford and new recruit Rasmus Hojlund.
“We’re looking for someone who can score goals,” Inter’s sporting director Piero Ausilio told Sport Mediaset earlier this week.
“Balogun? He is one of the opportunities, but we don’t only follow him.”
Brooklyn-born Balogun has made only 10 first-team appearances for Arsenal. He did, however, score a remarkable 22 goals during a sensational loan spell at Reims in 2022/23.