Tottenham-linked AS Monaco star is heading to Everton on transfer deadline day.
Tottenham Hotspur have splashed lavishly in the transfer market as they aim to return to European football after consecutive 17th-place finishes and a huge relegation scare last season.
Despite mammoth spending, Saturday’s 2-0 defeat to Newcastle United continued a poor start to the Premier League season for Spurs, who were battered 3-0 by Brentford on the opening weekend. The N17 officials have been doing their best to address the holes in the squad on deadline day.
Spurs have agreed a double deal for Chelsea’s Tosin Adarabioyo and Mykhaylo Mudryk. A £7m deal has been agreed for Tosin, while Mudryk moves to N17 on a season-long loan with an option to buy from Chelsea. In addition, the Lilywhites have also held an interest in AS Monaco striker Folarin Balogun for several months.
Tottenham miss out on AS Monaco striker
Folarin Balogun scored 24 goals across 74 appearances since joining AS Monaco in 2023, including a stellar campaign in last year’s Champions League where he netted five times in 10 outings. The 25-year-old had also shone during this summer’s World Cup, netting three goals in four appearances for USA.
This sparked interest among clubs in Europe, but it looks like Everton have won the race for the forward’s signature. According to transfer news guru Fabrizio Romano on X, Everton have agreed a package worth €50m with AS Monaco for Balogun. The American has agreed personal terms with the Toffees and has been given the green light to travel to England to undergo medical tests on Tuesday.
Everton are set to pay an initial €45m for the player and €5m in add-ons, with Monaco smartly inserting a sell-on clause in the deal. Balogun is returning to England, where he actually began his career in the Arsenal youth academy. Limited to only 10 senior appearances, the USA international decided to leave Arsenal and build his career in France.
Following a prolific season with Reims, Monaco signed him in 2023, and he has grown into a reliable striker that Everton are going to have in their attacking force this season. Spurs were also interested in Balogun, but perhaps their interest cooled down following the arrival of Omar Marmoush on loan from Manchester City. And regardless of Richarlison’s desire to leave N17, De Zerbi appears content with the options he has in attack now.
