Folarin Balogun is currently on loan from Arsenal, and according to Reims president Jean-Pierre Caillot, it will be “impossible” to sign him to a permanent contract after his standout campaign.
With 15 goals in 23 appearances, 21-year-old Balogun is tied with Lille’s Jonathan David and Paris Saint-Kylian Germain’s Mbappe for the league’s most goals.
Although the young striker only scored three goals in 18 games while on loan at Championship team Middlesbrough this past season, Caillot told France Bleu that the club had been keeping an eye on Balogun for years.
“We almost signed him for the club a few years ago when he was unsure whether he would have his first professional contract at Arsenal,” he said. “We clung to it, we continued to be in contact with him [and] today he is here.
“Everyone discovers Folarin Balogun, who was an illustrious unknown for the supporters a year ago, just like Hugo Ekitike, just like Boulaye Dia. It’s all the strength of the recruitment cell to always have a new player to take on.”
𝐅𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧 @balogun 𝐝𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 💫@StadeDeReims' beast. pic.twitter.com/zqwe2IgRPf
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) February 12, 2023
When asked about the chances of keeping Balogun in Reims, Caillot was realistic, although hopeful of maybe one more season on loan in an environment where he is clearly thriving.
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“I think [signing him permanently] is impossible,” he said. “The rules of the game are clear. These are boys that, when they join us, know that they’re here to improve and that it’s a step for them.
“So even if I’m not deciding for him, either Folarin will return to his club to have his chance, he’s loaned out, or he’s transferred to a very big club. He is a player who should go even higher.
“Obviously we’ll ask him if he feels good here, and at his club, but I think that now, he will need to take a step up.
“We are already working on life after Balogun, the day when he will leave our club. But if he and the club are open to another year at Reims, we’ll do everything to make it happen.”
Reims sit 10th on the table with a league-leading 13 draws in 23 matches.