Lens are thinking about rivalling Inter Milan to sign Arsenal and USMNT striker Folarin Balogun this summer.
This according to French news outlet TF1, via FCInterNews, who report that the Champions League new boys are ready to have a run at the 22-year-old in order to replace Lois Openda.
Reports suggest that Arsenal’s Balogun has become Inter’s top target in attack this summer.
The failure to sign Gianluca Scamacca has more or less whittled it down to the American.
Whilst the 22-year-old is not the most experienced candidate out their, his loan spell with Reims last season has convinced the Nerazzurri’s directors.
Balogun scored an eye-catching 22 goals for the Ligue 1 side.
However, Inter are not the only team who have an interest in signing Balogun.
And one in particular could prove to be thorny competition.
Lens Considering Move For Balogun As Replacement For Openda
One team looking for a new striker like Inter are French side Lens.
Despite having qualified for the Champions League last season, Lens cashed in on their star striker Openda over the summer.
The Belgian, who had reportedly been on Inter’s radar earlier in the summer, completed a move to RB Leipzig.
This leaves Lens looking for a replacement in the transfer market. It also means that the Champions League new boys are relatively flush with cash considering the fee that they sold Openda for.
And according to TF1, Lens have two targets in mind.
Balogun is a major one, the French outlet reports.
Lens will have seen how well Balogun has already done in Ligue 1, and could hope to have him replicate his Reims form, or even continue to grow and improve.
Moreover, the French side would be able to offer the young American Champions League football.
Meanwhile, TF1 report that Lens’s other target is 26-year-old Salernitana striker Boulaye Dia.
The former Villarreal and Reims striker scored sixteen goals in Serie A last season, and was vital to the Granata retaining their top flight status.
And according to TF1, Dia is Lens’s main alternative target to Openda.
