Stade de Reims president Jean-Pierre Caillot has admitted that it will be 'impossible' for the French outfit to sign Folarin Balogun on loan for an additional season. The 21-year-old Arsenal striker has impressed in Ligue 1 this season, giving the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi and Neymar a run for their money.
Balogun, who sees his contract with the Gunners expire in 2025, has featured 23 times for Stade de Reims this season, directly contributing towards 17 goals. The Hale End graduate has managed to rival the league's top players in the race for the Golden Boot, sharing first place with Mbappe and Jonathan David.
Had he converted his penalty against Nice at the weekend, Balogun would have claimed top-spot from the Paris Saint-Germain star and Lille striker, respectively, for his own. With the England and United States youth international proving to a huge success in the French topflight, the Stade de Reims president has surrendered that it's unlikely the youngster will return next term.
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Speaking to France Bleu, Caillot said: "I think it's impossible [that Balogun will return on loan next season].The rules of the game are very clear: these are boys who, when they join us, know that they are there to reveal themselves and this is a stage for them.
"So even if I don't decide for him, either Folarin will return to his club Arsenal to have his chance, or he will be loaned out again or even transferred to a very high level club. He is a player who must go even higher.
"So obviously, we will ask the question to him, who feels good here, and to his club but I think that today he will have to take a step. We are already working on the future 'Balogun' the day he will be taken to leave the club.
"But hey, if he and his club agree to do another year at Stade de Reims, we will do everything to make it happen."
Caillot continued by revealing what impresses him most about Balogun. He added: "What impresses me in this boy, and it is perhaps the English school, it's that he doesn't stay like a cone in front of the goal to push the balls. He works a lot for the team."
As he continues to impress, Mikel Arteta has heaped great praise on Balogun. He said: "So happy for him. He’s a boy with a really clear idea of what he wants to do in his career.
"Really ambitious, really committed and he’s really brave. We discussed before whether it was the right place to go [on loan to Reims] and other choices that he had.
"He was so convinced and I’m really happy for him because he deserves what he’s getting," the Arsenal boss added. "I’m very pleased and obviously when you look at the numbers and what he’s doing it’s just incredible, and very rare to see that.
"But he’s got something special, that’s why we gave him a long-term contract and have faith in him and give him the long period that he’s having now, because the period he’s having now is different to the one before at Middlesbrough. But that one was very necessary to see the outcome that he’s having now."
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