Folarin Balogun: I Hope This Rumour Is True
- Jun 25
- 2 min read
Updated: Jun 27
The latest rumour is that sporting director Ross Wilson is targeting a twin swoop for winger Antonio Nusa and striker Folarin Balogun.
On Balogun: I was surprised when Arsenal sold their then 22 year old youth product to Monaco in 2023 for £34M.
He was one of those players who had caught my eye in his first team appearances for Arsenal. Why? Because he reminded me of Alexander Isak.
Pace to burn, breaking through the lines, and clearly a natural finisher with an explosive shot. 18 goals in 34 games last season, and now the first USA player to score two in a game at the World Cup , Balogun has got a few PL clubs reportedly very interested.
Unlike Isak, Balogun is also very good in the air, and if like me you were fed up of seeing crosses from our wingers go unchallenged in the box last season, this lad wouldn't be shy in getting on the end of them.
But, Who Goes If We Sign A Striker?
In a recent Evening Chronicle survey 46% of fans voted our priority signing this summer to be a striker reflecting their doubts about Woltemade and Wissa.
Will Osula came on a ton at the end of last season and the confidence that will have given him and Eddie Howe surely means any thoughts of selling Will have gone.
If Osula keeps up his progress he could make a big impact in the new season.
That leaves Wolt and Wissa as the exit options, unless of course the rumour about signing another ST is media fantasy.
An outside possibility is that Eddie plays Osula out wide.
Will definitely has the pace to play there and he would be a goalscoring threat for sure. I think that is unlikely,but I wouldn't rule it out completely.
It would certainly give a totally different dynamic to our attack and if Elanga steps up this season there won't be another PL team who have more pace on the wings.
Either way...
I'd be more than happy if Balogun was signed.
Having him and Osula battle it out for the ST spot is exactly the type of competition that gets the best out of players.
And, with both having pace to burn, whoever has the shirt, Eddie doesn't need to change the playing system.
What do you think?
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I have to say I’m starting to feel very concerned about all of our players that are supposed to be being eyed up but the shifty six!
In some ways it’s a compliment but we need to get talented and hungry players in before we consider letting anyone go!
Evolution or Revolution? Are We Prepared for the Complete Dismantling of Howe’s Core?
So if Tonali and Bruno go? Where does that leave us? In the mire I’d say…..
They’ve both been excellent players for NUFC - it would be a very hard task to replace either of them but to replace both would be very difficult indeed!
Who would I prefer to keep? That’s a very difficult question but I’m leaning towards erm…….. Tonali at the moment!
I wondering if there’s any possible way back for Scotland? Is there are combination of results that would ease their possible path or are they now dead ducks? It is looking rather grim for them.
Perhaps Lochinvar could clear this question up for me?
I sincerely hope columbia wins the group or someone else messes it up as group winners go . It looks like Turkey otherwise will cost me over 1500 quid otherwise this world cup. When i did the bet i thought belgium or holland were the hardest ones . Turkey though massively flopped given the players they got .... they beat USA but couldnt beat australia or paraguay despite 62 shots in the 2 games plus almiron sent off . The man upstairs is one sick individual ....