Arsenal have reopened contract negotiations with their highly rated teenager Falorin Balogun. The 19-year-old’s current deal expires next summer, meaning he will be able to talk to other interested clubs about a move from January 2021 should he and the club fail to come to terms. 

According to David Ornstein and The Athletic, Arsenal were expected to sell the youngster this summer after previous talks over a new deal broke down. Interest is thought to be high, with the north London team reportedly rejecting bids from both Brentford and Sheffield United within the last year. 

But Mikel Arteta appears to have made extra effort to keep the teenager on board, integrating him into the first team squad this season, and handing him his senior debut in Arsenal’s Europa League game against Dundalk in October. 

It seems Arteta is determined to keep Balogun at the club, and, with their youth ranks already stocked with an impressive crop of talented youngsters, tying him down to a new deal would be a big boost for the future prospects of the squad.

Author: Ben Kitto

Photo: Little Savage, Wikimedia Commons