Arsenal prepared to offload academy graduate

Arsenal are prepared to sanction the sale of Folarin Balogun this summer after the striker decided against putting pen-to-paper on a new long-term deal.

Brentford had made a £5m bid for the teenager during the January transfer window but the Gunners snubbed the offer with the aim of extending the youngster's deal.

However, they have been unable to do so and The Athletic claims that they are set to listen to offers for the 18-year-old, who will enter the final year of his contract next month.

Balogun fared impressively in his debut season with the Under-23s and he was able to register 13 goals and five assists from 19 appearances before their season was curtailed due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Balogun has been fancied to make the breakthrough with the senior squad in the future, but with the competition from the likes of Gabriel Martinelli and Eddie Nketiah, he has decided to pursue a fresh challenge elsewhere.