This morning’s Daily Mail carries a report claiming that Fulham are considering the young Arsenal forward Folarin Balogun as a replacement for Aleksandar Mitrovic.
The Whites remain reluctant to let their Serbian striker join Al-Hilal, especially as the Saudi Pro League side have still failed to meet their £52m valuation. The latest bid is believed to be worth up to £46m and head coach Marco Silva still views the 28 year-old striker as an essential part of his strike force after the former Newcastle forward came off the bench to turn Fulham’s opening fixture at Everton in their favour by starting the move that led to Bobby De Cordova-Reid’s winner. Mitrovic has scored 111 goals in 206 appearances since moving to Craven Cottage in 2018 – initially on loan.
Selling Mitrovic, who scored fifteen times in all competitions last season as Silva’s side finished tenth on their return to the top flight, this close to end of the summer transfer window would be a gamble for Fulham. The Mail suggests that they are interested in offering Balogun, who has made just ten first-team appearances for the Gunners scoring twice goals, an opportunity to prove himself in the Premier League – although the Whites would probably baulk at the £50m asking price.
The 22 year-old striker, who scored his first international goal for the United States in CONCACAF Gold Cup final win over Canada earlier this summer having switched his allegiance from England, scored 22 goals in 39 games on loan at Ligue 1 Stade de Reims last season. Arsenal have already rejected an offer from Monaco for Balogun, who has two years to run on his contract at the Emirates.
With his pace and traoras pace we would be electric going forward
We would be great on the counter attack
Exciting times ahead
He was that good they loaned a 50 million striker out to another league
It would be great if we got him but I doubt whether the boy would pay the fee he would want a cheaper option let’s wait and see here’s. hoping
ould be a good choice but no premier league experience so 50 million even in todays market sound too steep. Maybe We could go for a loan with an option to buy that would give is the opportunity to see if he is worth that kind of money
I’m sure we could get for 40 mill
We would cause havoc with the pace of him and Traora
M Jones I think you’ll find its common practice to loan out youngsters, so they gain first team football. I agree 50 million is too much, but his breakout season last year got him 21 league goals in a mid table team and international recognition, so lets not be flippant