Arteta Confirms Arsenal Are Working Hard To Extend Balogun's Contract

Arsenal first-team manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed that the club are working hard to extend the contract of American-born striker of Nigerian parentage Folarin Balogun.

The England U20 international would be walking away from the Emirates Stadium as a free agent on July 1, 2021 if terms are not agreed between club and player.

Several clubs in the English Premier League, Championship and abroad have been linked with a move for the highly-rated teenager.

It is believed that Balogun has delayed signing a new deal because he fears for his first team opportunities should he extend his stay with the likes of  Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Alexandre Lacazette, Eddie Nketiah and Gabriel Martinelli ahead of him in Arteta's pecking order of strikers.

But there has been a new development in recent weeks with Arteta handing him his first team debut in the Europa League meeting with Dundalk and he's also in contention to feature against Molde on Thursday having traveled with the squad.

Speaking to reporters at the pre-match press conference on Wednesday afternoon, Arteta said : "Myself and the club are working to extend his contract to try and convince him it's the right place for him".

Balogun has played nonstop at Arsenal since the age of eight.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel