Report: Arsenal youngster Folarin Balogun wanted by Brentford

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Arsenal starlet Folarin Balogun is reportedly wanted by Championship outfit Brentford.

According to The Daily Mail, the promotion hopefuls are keen on the prolific Gunners youngster, but face competition from Italian giants AC Milan.

Balogun has been making waves in recent times in the Arsenal academy, scoring 28 goals in 28 games last season.

The New York-born striker of Nigerian descent is viewed as one of the club’s best young prospects, and there has even been some clamour for him to be tried in the first-team.

This term, Balogun’s good form has continued. In 12 games for the U23s, he has bagged seven goals and made four assists.

The Mail say Brentford are set to test Arsenal’s resolve with a bid of £5 million to sign him permanently.

Milan’s supposed interest could come from the fact that Ivan Gazidis is the Rossoneri’s CEO – the 55-year-old was formerly Arsenal’s chief executive before leaving in 2018.

TBR’s view – Arsenal should not sell

Arsenal should instantly reject any permanent offer from Brentford for their talented youngster.

Balogun has fantastic promise and the club would be making a mistake letting him go this soon, especially since he hasn’t even made his first-team debut yet.

Perhaps it would be in Arsenal’s best interests to see if Brentford wanted to take him on loan.

It would be good for him to test himself in the Championship and get a feel for senior football, and it might prepare him for potential first-team opportunities in 2020/21.