A young striker fromArsenal supervised by scouts from the ASSE and hoped for on loan by Claude Puel signed with a Championship club.
ASSE Mercato: Folarin Balogun officially loaned to Middlesbrough
Claude Puel had views on Folarin Balogun of Arsenal to strengthen his team during this winter transfer window. The Sun had confirmed the interest of the ex-general manager of the Loire club in the young Arsenal striker, while specifying that he had been supervised by Saint-Etienne recruiters in England with the Gunners reserve. The source said Romain Barq attended the match between Arsenal U23 and Blackburn Rovers FC. AS Saint-Étienne wanted to be loaned the 20-year-old nugget for six months, in order to boost their attack, during the return phase of Ligue 1.
Finally, Folarin Balogun will not land in Forez this winter, because he has just officially signed with Middlesbrough. The England D2 club made it known on their official website on Wednesday. “The England Under-21 international has joined the club until the end of the season. Boro fought the competition of a number of clubs (including ASSE, editor’s note) to secure the services of the much appreciated young striker “, wrote the team coached and managed by Chris Wilder. Recall that Youcef Belaïli (Algerian international left winger) and Zinedine Ferhat (Nimes Olympique right winger) pushed back the advances of the Stéphanois.
Mateta still hoped for by Dupraz at AS Saint-Étienne
Pascal Dupraz, new coach of the Greens, is still waiting for a center forward in reinforcement this winter. After a first refusal to release Jean-Philippe Mateta (24 years old), Crystal Palace started looking for an attacker. He would target Eddie Nketiah (22) of Arsenal. Patrick Vieira’s goal? Break the contract of the player loaned by Mainz since January 2021. Good news for ASSE who could negotiate his loan with the German club if Mateta is indeed fired by the Eagles. “We want to recruit an attacker […]. Mateta? We often have him on the phone ”, had entrusted the coach of ASSE on France Blue Saint-Etienne.