Premier League Rumors: Arsenal Gives Up On Young Gun, Unloading Balogun Soon

Arsenal FC is investing in youth but on their terms. It appears that talks have not gone well with Folarin Bolagun and the 19-year-old striker is imminently headed out and join a new team by the next transfer window. Considered one of the promising young players today, Bolagun is best known for leading the Under-23s this season, scoring 10 goals in 15 appearances.

Balogun has yet to see action for the senior side and it appears that he may not get that chance. According to The Athletic, contract talks have bogged down and the midfielder is expected to leave in the coming transfer window. He signed his first professional contract in 2019 and that deal will expire by the summer of 2021.

Both the Gunners and the Bolagun camp have been trying to come up with an acceptable deal but to no avail. With no progress, Arsenal has given up on contract talks and is now looking for the best possible offer for the 19-year-old midfielder.

Back in January, Brentford tried to pry Bolagun from Arsenal but the Gunners rejected the $6 million offer. Arsenal was hoping to find a way to convince the teen to extend his stay but it appears he is looking for something better elsewhere. Unnamed sources told to Goal.com that Arsenal wanted a performance-based deal for the England youth international. It would have ended up lucrative for Bolagun had he stayed the course and hit his targets.

Unfortunately, Bolagun's representatives were not amenable to that setup and opted to draw the line. Considering the Gunners already have Tyreece John-Jules and Eddie Nketiah in and around the first-team, letting Bolagun test the waters loomed as the viable option. Hence, Arsenal is now trying to find an optimal way to deal with the young midfielder.

Arsenal's preference for performance-based deals has not exactly panned out well. Xavier Amaechi opted to pass on a similar offer last summer and take his talent to Hamburg in Germany. The Gunners received $2.76 million for the 19-year-old although the numbers could go higher. If he performs well, Arsenal could be getting more money from the Amaechi deal. Aside from that, there is a sell-on clause included in that agreement. Arsenal will likely want a similar deal for Balogun from any club interested in taking him in.