'A very good player' - Lille coach Fonseca admits he has warned his defenders about Balogun

Speaking at a press conference before his side's Ligue 1 meeting with Stade de Reims, Lille manager Paulo Fonseca admitted that he has warned his defenders about the player who will pose to the biggest threat to his team, Folarin Balogun.

With 20 goal involvements in the Ligue 1 including eighteen strikes, the Arsenal loanee is currently one of the top four strikers in the division, with only Paris Saint Germain's Kylian Mbappe, Lille's Jonathan David and Lyons's Alexandre Lacazette ahead of him in the scoring charts. 

Although Balogun has not found the net in his last three matches, Fonseca has urged his players, the defenders in particular, to keep a close eye on the England U21 international of Nigerian descent.

The Hale End Academy graduate has missed just one game in the Ligue 1 this term, against Lille back in January due to a minor hamstring issue. 

When asked whether he has warned his defenders about Balogun, Fonseca was quoted as saying  by 11 HDF  : "Yes, we watched videos and worked on our defense.

"We know the movements of Balogun, who is a very good player. I think we are ready to play against a striker like him."

Balogun is on his joint longest goal drought since his arrival at Stade de Reims last summer and will be desperate to get back on the score sheet against Lille. 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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