Crystal Palace set sights on signing Balogun from Arsenal – sources
Crystal Palace is a possible destination for Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun this summer, sources have told Football Insider.
It is believed the Eagles are keen on the 21-year-old – who is set to end his 13-year association with the Gunners this summer.
Football Insider revealed on Monday (26 June) that Arsenal are ready to let Balogun leave the club this summer following his successful loan at Stade de Reims in the 2022-23 campaign.
A well-placed source has told Football Insider that the Gunners are likely to hold out for a fee of around £35million for the forward.
Crystal Palace are interested in a possible deal, while AC Milan are monitoring the situation alongside clubs from France’s top tier.
Balogun has gone public to rule out another temporary exit this summer, telling the media he “definitely won’t go on loan again” for the 2023-24 season.
He notched 22 goals and three assists across 39 appearances in all competitions in his temporary spell at Reims last term.
The Arsenal academy graduate is keen to lay down roots at a permanent home if he is to exit his boyhood club this summer.
Balogun has recently pledged his allegiance to the United States, making his first two appearances for the USMNT in friendlies earlier this month.
He scored his first international goal in a 2-0 win over Canada last week (19 June).
Crystal Palace are laying the groundwork for multiple summer deals despite not yet officially naming for the 2023-24 season.
Football Insider revealed earlier this month (10 June) that striker Jean-Philippe Mateta is keen to leave the club this summer in search of more regular first-team football.
Balogun could fill the void left by the Frenchman – while star man Wilfried Zaha has been the subject of many reported big-money offers with his Palace contract set to expire this week.
In other news, Arsenal leapfrog Newcastle in race to sign ‘Turkish Messi’.