Arsenal to let striker Folarin Balogun leave on loan transfer this January to get 20-year-old first-team action
ARSENAL are set to loan out Folarin Balogun in January, according to reports.
The young forward is highly-rated by the North Londoners, and was handed a new contract until 2025 last season.
But he has struggled for game time this term, opening the door to a temporary move.
According to The Athletic, there is a ‘huge’ amount of interest in the 20-year-old.
But the Gunners are yet to decide on his destination.
Arsenal may decide to keep Balogun around until the end of January.
Captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will depart for Afcon with Gabon for the majority of the month.
While, with their respective contracts running into their final six months, Eddie Nketiah and Alexandre Lacazette could both depart.
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For now, however, Arsenal’s intention is to let Balogun flourish elsewhere until the end of the campaign.
The highly-rated striker made six first-team appearances for the Gunners last term, scoring twice.
But Arsenal’s lack of European football has seen his opportunities limited this time around.
After starting his side’s 2-0 opening day defeat to Brentford, Balogun has played just 18 minutes of first-team action across two further appearances.
His most recent senior outing was a seven minute cameo during Arsenal’s 3-0 League Cup victory over AFC Wimbledon in September.
He has been on fire for the Gunners’ Under-23 side, however.
Captaining Kevin Betsy’s young guns, Balogun has netted 14 goals in just 10 PL2 appearances this term.
He has also scored two in two in the EFL trophy – against Plymouth Argyle and Ipswich Town’s first-teams.
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