Inter Milan are hopeful of bringing down Arsenal’s £50m valuation of striker Folarin Balogun this summer, and could offer up future incentives as a way to do so.
The Italian side were thought to be closing in on an agreement to re-sign Romelu Lukaku, only for them to pull out of the move after it emerged that the Belgian had also been in discussions with rivals Juventus, leaving the Nerrazzuri furious and prepared to look elsewhere for attacking reinforcements.
To that end, they have identified Balogun, who appears set to leave Arsenal permanently this summer after ruling out another loan move next season. The USMNT striker, who made his debut for the nation earlier last month after switching nationalities last season, has interest from across Europe following an excellent loan campaign with Stade Des Reims.
During his season on loan in Ligue 1 he found the net an impressive 22 times as well as providing three assists, shooting himself into the spotlight of plenty of European sides in the process.
Inter have reportedly already tabled one bid for the forward, consisting of 40m euros (£34.4m), which would either come in the form of a loan deal with an obligation to buy the player or a straight up purchase, with the fee being paid in five installments.
Arsenal’s valuation, however, is closer to £50m, something which Inter are reluctant to pay despite netting almost that exact amount from Manchester United for goalkeeper Andre Onana this summer. In a bid to bring that down, the London Evening Standard report that the Italian side ‘could insert a buyback clause or offer a favourable percentage of any future sale to help drive down cost’, something that Arsenal are likely to be open to.
