Have you heard about the English teenager who scored more goals in France than Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi, and Neymar? He is expected to give Arsenal a “good headache.”
Few headlines were made when Reims recruited a striker on loan from Arsenal who had scored three goals for Middlesbrough the previous season, but Folarin Balogun is suddenly the center of attention.
With 14 goals for a mid-table team managed by fellow Englishman Will Still, who is only 30 and hasn’t played professional football, the England Under-21 forward leads all scorers in France’s Ligue 1.
In the last ten days, Balogun has scored a hat-trick against Lorient and an extra-time equalizer against Paris St-Germain.
Haaland, Harry Kane, and Victor Osimhen have scored more goals this season among the top five leagues in Europe.
On October 13, Still took over as manager of Reims in lieu of Oscar Garcia, first as a caretaker. Since then, Reims has gone undefeated.
Throughout his time in France, the 21-year-old has been in excellent form, scoring five goals in his first six games under Garcia.
It is impossible to overstate Balogun’s significance to this Reims team. He has contributed more than any other player for a side in one of the top five leagues in Europe, scoring 54% of their league goals (14 out of 26).
This season, only six Reims players have scored in the league. Junya Ito, who is now their leading scorer, with four goals.
Balogun might be joining the English champions again this summer based on his present form and the fact that Arsenal lead the Premier League by five points. But what then?
Laurens questioned, “What does Arsenal do with him?” “Are you going to sell him, loan him, or offer him a spot on the team?
He would be really valuable, a phenomenal talent, and beneficial for Arsenal.
Balogun, who committed to a four-year contract with the Emirates Stadium in 2021, is two years younger than Eddie Nketiah, the main striker for the Gunners at the moment while Gabriel Jesus is injured.
With nine goals this season in all competitions, Nketiah leads Arsenal in scoring. Jesus scored five goals.
Having played 10 times for the club over the previous two seasons, he would not be beginning at Arsenal from scratch either.
Balogun scored in goals for the club in two Carabao Cup quarterfinal matches as well as matches in the Europa League against Molde and Dundalk.
With nine goals this season in all competitions, Nketiah leads Arsenal in scoring. Jesus scored five goals.
