Ligue 1 striker has been heavily linked with a move to Tottenham.
Roberto de Zerbi has been backed significantly in the transfer market by the Tottenham Hotspur hierarchy. They have loosened the purse strings, making a record spend to rebuild De Zerbi’s squad that narrowly escaped relegation last season.
The Italian boss has played a crucial role in ensuring that the Lilywhites sign players who are ready to make an instant impact at N17 in the first team. Spurs have managed to bolster their defence and midfield during the first half of the summer transfer window. However, there has been very little progress in adding more firepower up front.
Dominic Solanke has emerged as a target for Nottingham Forest, while there continue to be question marks about the future of Richarlison, who has entered the final year of his contract. As a result, the decision-makers at White Hart Lane are totally focusing on boosting their attacking ranks in the final weeks of the transfer window.
Tottenham hold ‘intense interest’ in AS Monaco star
Recent reports suggest Folarin Balogun is open to leaving AS Monaco this summer. The former Arsenal academy graduate has emerged as a target for Spurs, on the back of his impressive showing at the 2026 World Cup.
The USA international found the back of the net three times in four games in the showpiece tournament. Folarin Balogun went to the World Cup after an impressive season with AS Monaco, which yielded 13 goals in 30 league appearances. After two years in Ligue 1, the 25-year-old is exploring a move back to England.
Now, according to French paper L’Equipe, Tottenham hold ‘intense interest’ in Balogun. The AS Monaco star could cost them around €60m, with groundwork being laid out for a bid from the North Londoners.
Balogun’s current deal expires in 2028, and while Monaco have not been keen to sell, the right price could well see the door open for an exit from the Stade Louis II. The USA international remains one of several dynamic attacking options under serious consideration at White Hart Lane, with the key decision-makers aiming to bring in up to three new forwards before the transfer window slams shut.
De Zerbi favours fluid, flexible and quick strikers with strong link-up play and ability to stretch defences. Balogun, who joined Monaco IN 2023, fits that tactical mould perfectly. He offers the pace, directness and ruthless finishing quality that De Zerbi craves. However, the Lilywhites will need to splash in the region of €60m for Monaco to sanction the New York-born star’s sale.
It will be interesting to see whether Tottenham tables a bid for Balogun in the coming days. One thing is for sure: if Spurs manages to sign Balogun, it may ruffle a few feathers in the red half of North London.
