Millwall boss responds to transfer links with Arsenal's Anglo-American-Nigerian striker

Millwall boss Gary Rowett has refused to deny reports linking the Championship club with a move for Arsenal's Anglo-American-Nigerian center forward Folarin Balogun in the January transfer window.

The Gunners hierarchy has decided that a temporary move away for Balogun is the best option for all parties and sanctioned a loan move until the end of the 2021-2022 season.

Millwall, Swansea, Bournemouth and Sheffield United have been mentioned as possible destinations for the Hale End Academy graduate, who is also open to moving to top-flight clubs in Germany and France.

Although Balogun was promoted to Arsenal's first team before the season started, he is behind Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah in the pecking order of strikers at the Emirates, limiting his appearances and resulting in him playing for the U23s to maintain his match fitness.

Asked about links with Balogun, Rowett told the South London Press : "Our recruitment team will make enquiries for any good young striker out there.

"Whether those enquiries go any further or come to the point where the player is available, I don’t know.

"There is always going to be that speculation, most of the time away from my desk.

"We’ll look at players and we’re looking at quite a few players at the moment. We haven’t decided exactly what we’re going to do in the next window. It’s always quite fluid at our club."

Born in New York City, Balogun has played nonstop at Arsenal since the age of eight.