Inter Milan are set to make enquiries over the conditions of a deal for Folarin Balogun, with various factors contributing to the likelihood of a move.

Reims' English forward Folarin Balogun (L) celebrates his goal with his teammate Reims' Zimbabwean midfielder Marshall Munetsi during the French L1 football match between RC Lens and Stade de Reims at Stade Bollaert-Delelis in Lens, northern France on May 12, 2023. (Photo by SAMEER AL-DOUMY/AFP via Getty Images)
Reims’ English forward Folarin Balogun (L) celebrates his goal with his teammate Reims’ Zimbabwean midfielder Marshall Munetsi during the French L1 football match between RC Lens and Stade de Reims at Stade Bollaert-Delelis in Lens, northern France on May 12, 2023. (Photo by SAMEER AL-DOUMY/AFP via Getty Images)

Fabrizio Romano reports that Inter Milan will ask for the final conditions of a deal for Folarin Balogun early next week, with Balogun open to a permanent move and Arsenal expected to demand a significant fee.

Inter have always been in the race for Balogun, but the chance of a move have seemingly increased in recent days.

For a start, Inter’s planned move for Romelu Lukaku appears to be off. They’ve failed to reach an agreement with Chelsea, and the striker looks set to play his football elsewhere.

Then there’s Andre Onana, who is edging closer to a big-money move to Manchester United.

Latest Arsenal injury updates and news

The fee for Onana is now close to being finalised, according to David Ornstein, and United are hoping to have him signed before next Wednesday.

Reims' midfielder Folarin Balogun celebrates after scoring a penalty during the French L1 football match between Stade de Reims and FC Nantes at the Auguste-Delaune stadium in Reims, northern France on November 6, 2022. (Photo by FRANCOIS NASCIMBENI/AFP via Getty Images)
Reims’ midfielder Folarin Balogun celebrates after scoring a penalty during the French L1 football match between Stade de Reims and FC Nantes at the Auguste-Delaune stadium in Reims, northern France on November 6, 2022. (Photo by FRANCOIS NASCIMBENI/AFP via Getty Images)

So Inter find themselves in a situation where they have an influx of cash, their primary centre-forward target is going elsewhere, and they have a long-standing interest in Arsenal’s Folarin Balogun.

As mentioned, the Gunners are demanding a significant fee to sell Balogun, but Inter might now be one of the few clubs in mainland Europe capable and keen to pay it.

Di Marzio claim Balogun is currently Inter’s favourite summer target at centre-forward, though they do have other options.

Alvaro Morata, Mehdi Taremi, and M’Bala Nzola are also on Inter’s shortlist, so we’ll have to see how far the Serie A side are willing to go to land their number-one target.

Reims' English forward Folarin Balogun celebrates after scoring a penalty kick during the French L1 football match between Stade de Reims and Clermont Foot 63 at Stade Auguste-Delaune in Reims, northestern France, on August 14, 2022. (Photo by FRANCOIS LO PRESTI/AFP via Getty Images)
Reims’ English forward Folarin Balogun celebrates after scoring a penalty kick during the French L1 football match between Stade de Reims and Clermont Foot 63 at Stade Auguste-Delaune in Reims, north-eastern France, on August 14, 2022. (Photo by FRANCOIS LO PRESTI/AFP via Getty Images)

For the time being, Balogun remains with Arsenal on their pre-season tour.

The striker got a run-out against FC Nurnberg earlier this week, and he should be heavily involved in the tour of the USA, particularly given his new status as a U.S. international.

Arsenal’s Pre-Season Fixtures and Results

Arsenal news, gossip, transfers - Arsenal's English midfielder Bukayo Saka celebrates after scoring his team's third goal during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Emirates Stadium in London on May 28, 2023. (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)
Arsenal’s English midfielder Bukayo Saka celebrates after scoring his team’s third goal during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Emirates Stadium in London on May 28, 2023. (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)
  1. Saturday, July 8th – Arsenal 1-1 Watford (Behind closed doors)
  2. Thursday, July 13th – FC Nurnberg 1-1 Arsenal
  3. Thursday, July 20th, 01:30 – MLS All-Stars vs Arsenal
  4. Saturday, July 22nd, 22:00 – Arsenal vs Manchester United
  5. Thursday, July 27th, 03:30 – Arsenal vs Barcelona
  6. Wednesday, August 2nd, 18:00 – Arsenal vs Monaco
  7. Sunday, August 6th, 16:00 – Arsenal vs Manchester City

Times in BST

Latest Arsenal injury updates and news