New contract for Arsenal star hints at summer exit for Lacazette

With Arsenal starlet Folarin Balogun set to sign a new contract, it hints at the Gunners parting ways with Alexandre Lacazette this summer.

After back and forth in contract negotiations, Folarin Balogun is set to put pen to paper and sign a new contract with Arsenal.

The 19-year-old is expected to sign a new deal that will keep him at the club until 2025.

Balogun is one of the brightest youngsters to come through the Gunners academy in recent years and has been in and around the first team this season. He bagged his first senior goal for the club in an Europa League fixture against Molde back in November 2020.

19-year-old Folarin Balogun scored his first Arsenal goal 37 seconds after coming on as a substitute against Molde ⚡ pic.twitter.com/hOUE3IO0qf
— B/R Football (@brfootball) November 26, 2020

The Hale End striker has made 23 appearances in all competitions between the age sides and the senior team, scoring 11 goals alongside three assists.

With no assurance of game-time at the senior level, there were reports that Balogun was ready to leave the club, with at least 15 clubs across Europe showing interest in the youngster.

Folarin Balogun is gonna turn down an important contract bid from Bayer Leverkusen to stay at Arsenal. RB Leipzig have never been in the race.

Balogun is now set to sign a new contract with Arsenal until 2025, the agreement is ‘imminentm as @David_Ornstein reported ⚪️🔴 #AFC https://t.co/T50NG53go4
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) April 9, 2021

Following talks with Mikel Arteta, the player will now stay put at the club and the official announcement could come on Wednesday.

Folarin Balogun has agreed a new contract with Arsenal to extend his stay at the Emirates Stadium until at least the end of the 2024/25 season. Balogun will conduct media duties on Tuesday, with the club to announce the new deal on Wednesday. [@Editor_ANS exclusive] #afc pic.twitter.com/sQ1iokgSnQ
— afcstuff (@afcstuff) April 11, 2021

While this is good news for the club, what could it mean for one of the club’s senior strikers?

Alexandre Lacazette to leave Arsenal?

Alexandre Lacazette has just one year left on his current deal at the end of the campaign. The Frenchman has blown hot and cold this season and particularly received much criticism after a woeful display against Slavia Prague in the Europa League on Thursday.

Thoughts on Alexandre Lacazette miss vs Slavia Prague today? https://t.co/qgkGIiAOSQ pic.twitter.com/3cXzfwZgai
— EgalO (@ThekidEG) April 9, 2021

Despite Mikel Arteta responding positively to reports that the Frenchman being linked with other clubs, the news of Balogun’s contract could tempt the Spaniard into parting ways with the forward who turns 30 this year.

“I am always happy when people talk about our players and speculate on that. It means they are doing well and getting attention from other clubs” said Arteta while discussing Lacazette’s future at the club recently.

“The situation with Laca will get addressed in the summer. I will speak to him and just propose a future that we want and that’s it.”

By the end of this season, both Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will be the wrong side of 30. In Balogun and Martinelli, Arsenal have two 19-year-olds with the potential to eventually fill those striking berths.