Jean-Pierre Caillot, the president of Stade de Reims, has acknowledged that it will be impossible for the club to secure Folarin Balogun on loan for another season after the Reims faithful have broken the unwritten rule of never falling in love with a loan player.

Reims players, coaches and fans broke the sacred unwritten rule by falling in love with a loan player. However, you can understand their situation with in-form Balogun scoring goals every week for the club, putting their head over heels.

Balogun had a tough time at Arsenal before moving to France and struggling on loan at Middlesbrough last season, scoring only three goals in 21 appearances.

However, he has excelled this season in France and is now in demand, having become the joint top scorer in Ligue 1 with 15 goals.

Caillot explained that it is unlikely Balogun will return to Stade de Reims next season, as the club’s policy is to provide a platform for young players to showcase their talent. Balogun will either return to Arsenal for a chance in their first team, be loaned out or transferred to a higher-level club.

Speaking to France Bleu, Caillot said: “I think it’s impossible (that Balogun will return on loan next season). The rules of the game are very clear: these are boys who, when they join us, know that they are there to reveal themselves and this is a stage for them.

Stade de Reims will explore the possibility of another loan deal if Balogun and his club agree, but they are already preparing for his departure.

“So even if I don’t decide for him, either Folarin will return to his club Arsenal to have his chance, or he will be loaned out again or even transferred to a very high-level club. He is a player who must go even higher.

“So obviously, we will ask the question to him, who feels good here, and to his club but I think that today he will have to take a step. We are already working on the future ‘Balogun’ the day he will be taken to leave the club. But hey, if he and his club agree to do another year at Stade de Reims, we will do everything to make it happen,” Caillot states.

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