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It is always said that clubs should avoid getting into a situation where a player enters the final year of his contract, and Arsenal are finding that out with Folarin Balogun right now.
The young forward has been exceptional for the Under-23s and also looked brilliant when he had the opportunity to also play for the senior team, although most of those opportunities came in the Europa League.
He is now in the last six months of his contract, so clubs in Europe can negotiate a pre-contract with him, and the list of suitors continues to grow as Bayer Leverkusen appears to be involved:
Bayer Leverkusen have joined the race for Arsenal forward Folarin Balogun. Stuttgart #VfB and Rennes also interested. #AFC fighting to keep him at Emirates with a summer contract #Bayer #Renne
** published together @SamJDean story about Thomas Partey https://t.co/6swbKbm5fU
– Mike McGrath (@mcgrathmike) February 12, 2021
The biggest problem for Arsenal will come in the negotiations, as the interest of other parties will allow the player to increase his salary demands, while he could also request that he have more opportunities to play or also sign a new contract.
That leaves Arsenal on a barrel because you can’t have a young player dictate team selection, but fans will also be furious if he leaves for nothing and then becomes a major star elsewhere.
There is still no indication that he has agreed to the terms with another club, although they would not be required to announce that if it had happened, so it will be an anxious few months for Arsenal as they try to work out a new deal for him.