Will he be Balogunner or Balogoner?

Arsenal are facing an important battle off the pitch. There are rumours that a number of foreign clubs are willing to take their 19-year-old starlet Folarin Balogun off their hands – and they have no way of preventing it. Unless the player agrees to a new contract at Emirates.

The youngster is yet to make his mark in the Premier League, but he did make five senior appearances and scored a couple of goals in the Europa League group stage. Asked about Balogun’s future, manager Mikel Arteta admitted that he would like to keep the New York City-born striker.

“We’re trying to get something done. We want him to stay. We’re going step-by-step and he’s made some big steps in the last few months. He wasn’t even training and then he’s had a few good games for us. The steps are there in every way. We’re trying to keep him.”

In the meantime, some progress was made and English newspaper Daily Mail reports that Balogun is on the verge of committing himself to the club. Although a few final details still need to be resolved, Arteta seems to have convinced the England youth international that he has a long-term future at the Emirates.

Speaking to Arsenal’s club website two years ago, Balogun admitted that he could have easily ended up playing for Tottenham Hotspur. The very though of their promising striker turning out for their biggest rivals is enough to send shivers down Gunners’ backs.

"I have been at Arsenal since I was 10 years old and they are the team I’ve always supported, but I was very close to signing for Spurs! I had a six-week trial with Arsenal but had to keep a connection with Spurs just in case I didn’t get an offer. I was speaking to Spurs again but thankfully Arsenal signed me and I have been with the club ever since."

The son of Nigerian parents, Folarin attracted interest from German club VfB Stuttgart and French team Monaco in recent months, but also from Premier League rivals including Manchester City, Everton and Crystal Palace. He has been free to sign a pre-contract with any club and this is the reason why Arteta cannot relax until the deal has been rubber-stamped.

The Spanish coach is hopeful that the club’s sporting director Edu will secure Balogun’s future.

"I think I am pretty positive about the contract extension and every time I spoke to Folarin, he mentioned the same thing - that he wants to stay here. We have had some really positive conversations with his agent as well and Edu is in charge of that. He’s been spending a lot of time and energy to make that deal happen because it’s important for us to keep our talent in the house, and what we can guarantee is that we’re doing everything we can to keep him."

If he goes, Balogun will surely turn to a Balogoner but the fans are hoping he will instead be a Balogunner for years to come.