Middlesbrough leads the race for Balogun
Arsenal starlet Folarin Balogun looks set to depart north London on a temporary basis this month after the Hale End academy graduate has been lined-up for increased first-team minutes.
According to the Daily Telegraph’s Sam Dean, Championship outfit Middlesbrough leads the race for the striker who has been shining at U23 level for Arsenal this season to the tune of 13-goals and 3-assists in just eleven appearances in Premier League 2.
Also in this, I’m told Middlesbrough are currently leading the race to sign Folarin Balogun on loan (amid plenty of competition).
— Sam Dean (@SamJDean) January 4, 2022
But despite his progression, the 20-year-old England youth international has found first-team minutes under Mikel Arteta hard to come by in 2021-22 with just 70-minutes in the Premier League coming his way while not logging any since matchday two against Chelsea.
Balogun may have to fight for his place at the Riverside Stadium as well given Boro having a handful of attacking options already on the books.
Arsenal and Maitland-Niles to part ways again
Arsenal midfielder Ainsley Maitland-Niles looks set to be the second player to leave the club in January after the academy product has – once again – failed to make an impression at the club to earn minutes in the heart of the midfield.
That is not all on AMN, however, after he looked all set to leave the club in the summer for Everton before Arteta convinced him to remain at the club.
LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 07: Ismaïla Sarr of Watford FC is challenged by Ainsley Maitland-Niles of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Watford at Emirates Stadium on November 07, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Things have hardly panned out for the 24-year-old, however, logging just 263-minutes across eight Premier League appearances with just two starts to his name.
Serie A outfit AS Roma seem rather keen on the midfielder and though they initially wanted the option to buy the player outright in the summer, his impending loan move to the Italian capital will be for only the remainder of the 2021-22 season without an option.
