Izuchukwu OkosiNigeria-eligible striker, Folarin Balogun, could find himself playing for a new English club next season if his current club, Arsenal, decides to sell him to one of his suitors.
The Arsenal youngster is currently on loan at French Ligue 1 side, Reims, and is topping the goalscorers’ chart with 15 goals after last weekend’s heroic against Troyes, ahead of global superstars like Kylian Mbappe, Neymar, Lionel Messi and Alexandre Lacazette.
Ordinarily, such form would warrant that the striker is possibly rewarded with first team opportunities when he returns to his parent club – depending on his pre-season performance.
However, media reports in the UK indicate that the Gunners may consider him an asset, to recoup some cash following his impressive form.
While it would be a good idea to keep the Anglo-Nigerian at the club, these are good alternatives for Balogun should he sign for another club next season.
Prime Business Africa looks at the clubs where Balogun could be a good fit.
1. Aston Villa
Aston Villa has lost some attacking bite following the sale of Danny Ings to West Ham United.
Current first choice in the number 9 role, Ollie Watkins, is a promising talent in Villa’s attack but his consistency has been questioned.
Villa is a club where competition for starting places will be at a premium and Balogun could work with a team that boasts of creative midfielders like Phillipe Coutinho and Emi Buenda to provide him the ammunition upfront.
2. Leeds United
Leeds United could do with a striker of Balogun’s ilk to complement the enterprise of the duo of Wilfried Gnonto and Crysensio Summerville.
Spanish forward Rodrigo is currently injured and Patrick Bamford has not proven to be relied upon with his fitness as well as scoring on a consistent basis.
READ ALSO: How Balogun Overcame Difficult Moments, Arsenal’s Plans For Super Eagles Prospect – Arteta
3. Bournemouth
Bournemouth are currently in relegation battles and it just seems that they have arguably the weakest team in the Premier League in terms of player quality.
However, should Bournemouth escape being relegated from the topflight, winning the top striking job would seemingly not be a mighty task for the Super Eagles prospect.
4. Burnley
If as expected, they gain promotion to the Premier League, English Championship side, Burnley could do with the services of Folarin Balogun.
Accepted, the club coached by Premier League legend, Vincent Kompany will be ambitious to go for a more experienced striker capable of keeping them in the top division.
Balogun being part of that attacking setup would surely not go wrong.
If Balogun can shrug off the competition of players like Messi, Mbappe, Neymar and Lacazette in the Ligue 1, he can do a decent job for a promoted team like Burnley.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
In October 2004, Okosi joined Complete Communications Limited, publishers of Complete Sports newspaper and Complete Football magazine as a reporter and later script writer for the Complete Sports studio.
He worked there for 13 years until October 2017.
Okosi also worked various times as Correspondent, Content creator and Editor at Sports Market International Magazine, Opera News, All Nigeria Soccer Media and Iconic Media Watch.
He also undertook freelance writing gigs for some local and international organizations.
Okosi is a member of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Association of Voiceover Artistes of Nigeria (AVOA), Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) and Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
He has been part of cast in some Nollywood movies and radio dramas including Blood Money 2, Scores To Settle, Dead End 2, Another Campus Tale and Battle Line.
Aside mainstream media and the entertainment industry, he has interests in scouting/unearthing of talents in the sports and creative sectors, exports business and property development.
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