Arsenal could now demand that Chelsea pay an even higher price if they want to sign striker Folarin Balogun before the transfer deadline.
Chelsea are moving for Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun but the Gunners may hike up their asking price.
That is according to Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth, who has been speaking about Balogun’s future.
Sheth suggested that Arsenal have held ‘positive’ talks with Monaco over a deal for Balogun.
Sheth also suggested that one source has told him about ‘tentative talks’ between Chelsea and intermediaries working on Balogun’s future.
The Blues have lost Christopher Nkunku to injury and are seemingly looking to add another goalscoring threat.
Balogun is one target but Sheth has heard that Arsenal would be tempted to change their asking price for Chelsea.
The Gunners want £50million for Balogun as things stand but could ask for even more money in order to let him join a rival like Chelsea.
“Interestingly, Chelsea have also shown an interest in Balogun,” said Sheth. “I’m told that tentative talks have taken place with intermediaries, who want to find out the conditions of the deal.”
“Now, there is one source that has told me that the conditions of the deal for Chelsea might be different to the conditions of the deal for a club outside of the Premier League and we think Arsenal might want to raise their valuation if they were going to sell to Chelsea or another Premier League club, compared to if they wanted to sell to Monaco.”
“As it stands, Arsenal haven’t budged on their £50million valuation – I just wonder if it’s higher if Chelsea came to the party,” he added.
Arsenal face a potential Folarin Balogun problem
Arsenal’s stance will be seen as cheeky by Chelsea but Gunners fans will probably support it.
The Gunners are keen to sell Balogun but seeing him join a bitter rival like Chelsea would be a bitter pill to swallow.
Edu and co may believe that there needs to be an added incentive for Arsenal to sell to a rival but they need to be careful here.
It has been hard enough to convince anybody to pay that £50million demand this summer.
Balogun was outstanding on loan at Reims last season, smashing 21 goals in 37 Ligue 1 games.
The 22-year-old clearly has huge talent and enormous potential but there have been no biters on that asking price.
The fact is that not many clubs around can fork out £50million for Balogun; that’s why we’re heading towards the transfer deadline with him still at Arsenal.
Chelsea may be one of the few clubs who would be willing to pay that kind of money, so to then ask them for even more could see the Blues walk away.
Arsenal have been looking to sell Balogun to off-set some of their summer spending but if they’re not careful, they may end up going beyond the deadline without a deal – and that’s not ideal for anyone with Balogun clearly not in Mikel Arteta’s plans even after an injury to Gabriel Jesus.