West Ham United have made Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun a priority summer signing, according to transfer rumors.
Balogun’s future at Arsenal is uncertain, with the US international striker reportedly set to leave the Emirates Stadium after manager Mikel Arteta failed to provide him significant promises about game time next season.
The striker, who turns 22 on July 3, spent the previous season on loan with Ligue 1 side Reims, where he scored 21 goals in 37 games.
West Ham and Arsenal are already in talks about the future of England midfielder Declan Rice, with the Hammers insisting on a £100 million fee for the 24-year-old.
Man United have stepped in with a player-plus-cash deal that has been described as Arteta’s worst nightmare for Arsenal.
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West Ham are willing to accept a part-exchange deal, and Balogun is a player who has been considered during the Rice negotiations.
Hammers manager David Moyes is also looking to bolster the centre-forward position in the coming weeks.
West Ham striker Gianluca Scamacca is expected to leave the club this summer, with links to Serie A clubs including Roma and AC Milan.
Arsenal, on the other hand, has declined to include their academy graduate in the Rice deal because talks over the new US international’s future are still underway.
Arteta’s ideal plan for Balogun would be to take him on a pre-season tour of the United States in July to assess how he compares to his more senior teammates, but if the forward is actually set to go, he may not get the chance.
