Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun scored an incredible hat-trick for loan club Reims on Wednesday, taking his seasonal Ligue 1 tally to 14 goals. But can the Gunners now recall him?
The 21-year-old netted his first senior hat-trick in a 4-2 win over Lorient, including a superb first-time volley from the edge of the area.
He is now the French top division's highest scorer this season, ahead of Kylian Mbappe, Neymar and Jonathan David.
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His 14 goals have come in just 20 Ligue 1 games, while he also netted once in the Coupe de France earlier this season.
Balogun is experiencing his first full season of regular top division football, and will now surely be in contention in Arsenal's first team once his loan deal expires at the end of the campaign.
However, is it possible for Arsenal to bring him back to the Emirates Stadium before then?
Folarin Balogun: Can he be recalled by Arsenal?
The answer to this question is, unfortunately for the Gunners, no.
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Arsenal do have a recall clause in Balogun's loan contract, as confirmed by 90min, and the club were considering triggering it following the injury suffered by Gabriel Jesus at the World Cup.
But the club decided not to bring the 21-year-old back to the Emirates Stadium, instead entrusting Eddie Nketiah to be the Gunners' lone centre forward, with other players able to play there if necessary.
Players on loan at another club can only be recalled in the first or last 28 days of a loan spell, or during a transfer window. As the transfer deadline in both England and France has now passed, Balogun cannot be recalled by Arsenal without Reims' permission.
However, it is possible for the loan to be cancelled in the case of an emergency at the Emirates if both clubs agree, but even then it is likely that a significant financial penalty would be involved.
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But the club have been reluctant to disrupt the striker's progress in France, meaning that even if there was an Arsenal injury crisis, the likeliest option would be for Mikel Arteta to choose from players currently at the club, or in the academy.
Topics: Arsenal, Premier League, Transfers