Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta admitted he is not sure whether Folarin Balogun’s agent wants the player to remain at the club.
The 19-year-old’s current deal will expire at the end of the season.
Balogun’s representatives and the club are yet to find an agreement over a new new contract despite engaging in talks for months.
The likes of Liverpool, Sheffield United and Brentford are said to be interested in the young forward.
“You need three parties to make a deal,” declared the Arsenal boss
“For sure, the club wants to make a deal, the manager wants to make a deal, the player wants to stay and I’m not sure about the agent.”
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When asked if he thought Balogun’s agent was stopping the talks progressing, Arteta added: “I’m not saying he’s stopping, it’s that we need to find an agreement with him.
“We are negotiating with an agent, with a player that wants to stay at the club and we need to find an agreement.
“I’m telling you that we are doing everything we can to keep him here and hopefully from the other part they are doing the same and in the same interest, which is the player’s interest, which is to stay at the football club and be successful with us.”
Balogun, who is represented by Elite Project Group, has scored twice in five senior appearances for Arsenal and is expected to be involved on Saturday when the Gunners begin the defence of the FA Cup with a third-round clash against Newcastle.
“He is fit and available,” Arteta said. “His progression and the use of the time he’s had with us has been incredibly good and he will keep having chances while he is with us.”
