Wilder Speaks Out As Blades Fall 12M Short Of Asking Price For Arsenal Starlet

Wilder Speaks Out As Blades Fall 12M Short Of Asking Price For Arsenal Starlet

Sheffield United have had an opening bid of £3m, plus add-ons, rejected for Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun, according to the Daily Mail.

Despite the 19-year-old having less than one year remaining on his contract at the Emirates, the Gunners are said to be holding out for around £15m. Blades boss Chris Wilder confirmed the Yorkshire club had enquired about the teenager at his pre-match press conference yesterday:

“We made an enquiry regarding the young man at Arsenal. That’s left with the CEO at our football club and at Arsenal.”

It does appear that United remain active in their pursuit of Balogun but there is a huge gap between the two clubs’ valuation of the player which will need to be bridged. Some of that could be covered by more performance-related bonuses and add-ons but it seems clear that the Blades will also have to up their bid significantly to get the player.

Liverpool’s Rhian Brewster is also reportedly a target for Wilder, although the Reds have yet to make their decision on whether to loan out the England Under international or sell him outright.