Chelsea interested in signing Arsenal striker of Nigerian descent 

Premier League giants Chelsea have joined Monaco in the race for cap-tied United States international of Nigerian descent Folarin Balogun.

Sky Sports reported this evening that Chelsea are keen on the Arsenal striker but no formal bid has been made yet by the Stamford Bridge outfit. 

Balogun has approximately two years left on his Gunners contract and is valued at 50 million pounds by the north London club.

Monaco are still in talks with Arsenal to secure the signing of Balogun and the Principality club are set to return with an improved offer after seeing their initial bid rejected.

Serie A club Inter Milan also explored the possibility of signing the Hale End Academy graduate this summer but were priced out of a deal. 

Balogun has made it clear that he wants to leave his boyhood club before the close of the summer transfer window as he has not been guaranteed first team opportunities, with the likes of Gabriel Jesus, Eddie Nketiah and Leandro Trossard ahead of him in manager Mikel Arteta's pecking order of center forwards. 

In search of playing time, the 22-year-old was loaned out to Stade de Reims in 2022-2023 and he enjoyed a glittering time at the Red and Whites, scoring 22 goals in 39 matches across all competitions. 

Balogun has registered two goals and an assist in 10 first team appearances for Arsenal.

Igho Kingsley