Inter fans have seen hope in target Folarin Balogun training separately from Arsenal teammates in pre-season, as coach Mikel Arteta refuses to confirm if he will remain.
The striker emerged as the main candidate to lead the attack after talks with Chelsea were abandoned for Romelu Lukaku.
Balogun is said to be irritated at the lack of playing time with the Gunners and wants guarantees he’ll be on the field more regularly if he is to stay after returning from a loan spell at Stade Reims.
The USA international was left out of both the friendly games against Manchester United and Barcelona this week.
“He wasn’t available,” insisted manager Arteta in a press conference.
“He had a little foot injury and he hasn’t been training with us.”
However, when asked if Balogun will stay with Arsenal this season, Arteta knew not to get ahead of himself with the answer.
“We will have to see.”
The asking price for Balogun is over €50m, but having just turned 22, the centre-forward with English and United States citizenship could be a valuable addition to the squad.
During last season’s loan experience at Reims, he scored 22 goals in 39 official games.