Arsenal could be subject to a cash injection this summer, thanks to Folarin Balogun, who fired the United States to victory over Paraguay on Thursday night.
Folarin Balogun could give Arsenal a much-needed boost in the summer transfer window. The 24-year-old striker, whom Monaco signed from the Gunners for £34million in August 2023, helped the United States get off to a winning start to its World Cup campaign, firing Mauricio Pochettino’s side to a 4-1 win over Paraguay.
The hosts took an early lead at the Los Angeles Stadium when Damián Bobadilla scored an own goal inside the opening minutes. Balogun doubled the United States’ advantage on the half-hour mark and netted a second shortly before the break.
In doing so, the former Arsenal striker, who spent his formative years in north London, became the first American player to score more than one goal in a World Cup match since 1930, when the tournament was founded. Midway through the second-half, Balogun was replaced by Ricardo Pepi.
A few moments later, Maurício pulled one back for Paraguay. The United States weathered the storm on the west coast, denying Gustavo Alfaro’s side from scoring another. Then, in the dying embers of stoppage time, Giovanni Reyna put the fourth and final nail in the coffin, waltzing away with three crucial points.
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Balogun played a starring role in the victory, turning heads across the world. Speaking to reporters after the game, Pochettino heaped praise on his players for producing such an electric start to the campaign.
“That is what we were waiting for,” said the former Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea boss. “When you talk about America — that passion, that feeling – today they were amazing, and now they realise that soccer here in America is massive. Be careful, other sports.”
Pochettino added: “In the first 45 minutes, I said we were amazing. It’s difficult to find a team to play like this. So happy and so proud.”
Balogun, who’s emerged as one of the early standout performers at the World Cup, will be hoping to put himself in the shop window this summer. The Hale End graduate will enter the final two years of his contract with Monaco next month, meaning he could soon be available for a cut-price fee if he doesn’t pen an extension.
In January 2028, foreign clubs will be eligible to open pre-contract talks with Balogun over a free transfer in the following summer – unless, of course, he signs a new deal with the Ligue 1 outfit beforehand.
If the United States star doesn’t pen an extension soon, Monaco will be forced to make a difficult call. They will have to decide whether they’d rather risk losing him for free later on or cut their losses and cash in before his market value plummets.
As it stands, the Ligue 1 outfit are under no pressure to sell, but Balogun could force their hand if he manages to attract interest from some top clubs this summer. If he were to leave Moanco, football.london understands that Arsenal would be entitled to 17.5 per cent of any potential bid.
The sell-on clause could add millions to the war chest at the Emirates Stadium this summer, with Balogun currently priced at £34million by Transfermarkt. If the Ligue 1 outfit were to accept such a fee and part ways with the striker, it would give Andrea Berta a huge boost to his efforts in the transfer window.
Last month, following the Champions League final, Mikel Arteta demanded the sporting director be ‘very ambitious’ this summer… so every little helps!
