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By Anthony Nlebem.
Despite Folarin Balogun’s scintillating performance with French Ligue 1 side Reims, the club’s general manager, Mathieu Lacour, has ruled out any contract extension for the striker, who is on loan from Arsenal, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The British-born player of Nigerian descent has excelled on loan at Reims, with his loan deal ending at the end of the 2022/23 season.
However, there have not been any contract talks between the forward and the club.
The 21-year-old is the Red and Whites’ top scorer with 17 goals and is the third leading goals scorer in Ligue 1 this season.
The Brooklyn-born striker has been prolific and enjoyed a brilliant run this season and has scored 18 goals in 30 appearances for the Red and Whites across all competitions.
Balogun has scored more times than Lionel Messi this term, with only Kylian Mbappe and Jonathan David scoring more goals than the Arsenal loanee with just two goals.
The former Middlesbrough forward is the only player to have scored against Paris Saint-Germain, Marseille, Lens, Monaco and Rennes, who make up the top five, this season.
But Balogun is uncertain of what the future holds at the end of the season as Reims GM revealed the club had no intention of signing a permanent deal with the British-born player of Nigerian descent.
“The deal was clear with Arsenal and Balogun. We wish him the best for next season,” Lacour said as quoted by French media Foot National.
“I hope for him at Arsenal, maybe at another big club. It was a win-win deal and Balogun will be under other skies.”
Gunners have a big decision to make when Balogun returns to the Emirates at the end of the season, but Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is believed to be open to selling the striker in the summer, with Gabriel Jesus, Eddie Nketiah and Leandro Trossard all fighting for the striking role.
The Arsenal academy product still has two years to run on his contract at the Emirates and his fine form could earn him a big deal in the summer.