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Reims president Caillot: Arsenal striker Balogun destined for very big club

Reims hope not to lose Folarin Balogun in the summer.

The England U21 international, 21, has scored 15 goals in 23 Ligue 1 games since joining Reims on a season-long loan from Arsenal. He is the joint-leading scorer in Ligue 1 alongside Lille talent Jonathan David and Paris Saint-Germain superstar Kylian Mbappe.

Balogun will need to make a decision on his future at the end of the season. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, who usually deploys just one centre-forward, already has two senior strikers on his roster in first-choice star Gabriel Jesus and back-up Eddie Nketiah.

Reims' president Jean-Pierre Caillot is hoping the Gunners will allow Balogun to spend another season on loan at his club.

I think [signing him] is impossible," Caillot told France Bleu. "The rules of the game are clear: these are boys that, when they join us, know that they're here to improve and that it's a step for them. So even if I'm not deciding for him, either Folarin will return to his club to have his chance, he's loaned out, or transferred to a very big club."

Caillot added: "He is a player that should go even higher. So obviously we'll ask him if he feels good here, and at his club, but I think that now, he will need to take a step up."

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