Nantes regret losing out on the signing of Arsenal's Balogun to rival French side Reims

FRENCH Ligue One giants Nantes are ruing missing out on the signing of Arsenal's Nigeria-eligible striker Folarin Balogun who ended up joining rivals Stade de Reims on loan for the duration of the 2002/03 season.

Balogun, 21,  is a Hale End Academy graduate of Nigerian descent, born in New York City, making him eligible to represent the US as well as England and Nigeria. Having tied him down at at the Emirates Stadium for the foreseeable future, Arsenal sent Balogun out on loan to Reims to the chagrin of Nantes, who had been hoping to secure his services.

Nantes had been hoping to pair Balogun up with compatriot Simon Moses and are particularly irked that the Gunner has got off to a flying start at Reims. Nantes attempted to sign the England U21 international of Nigerian descent in July but missed out on his signature due to a disagreement between manager Antoine Kombouaré and sporting coordinator Philippe Mao.

Since moving to France, Balogun has flourished, scoring against all the teams he has faced with the exception of Lyon,  taking his tally to five goals in six appearances. Reims have been following the progress of Balogun since 2019 and offered him his first professional contract but the striker decided to commit his future to the Gunners.

In June this year, England manager Gareth Southgate invited Balogun to train with the Three Lions senior squad as part of a long term plan to tie him down. Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) officials are believed to have been keeping an eye on him and it appears that to forestall any bid from them, Mr Southgate invited him to camp, hoping to get him to commit to England at the senior level.