Everton submit offer for Monaco striker Folarin Balogun
Everton have submitted an offer for AS Monaco forward Folarin Balogun ahead of Tuesday's transfer deadline. The Toffees want to strengthen their forward line before the window closes.
Balogun joined AS Monaco from Arsenal in 2023 and is 25 years old. Everton have identified Balogun and Tottenham attacker Richarlison among their targets as they seek attacking reinforcements. Richarlison is believed to have reservations about returning to Everton, the club he left to join Spurs in 2022. Everton have pressed ahead with their interest in Balogun and have made a bid for the forward.
Balogun was at the centre of a major controversy during this summer's World Cup after being dismissed for serious foul play against Bosnia-Herzegovina in the last 32 match and should have received an automatic suspension. Fifa's disciplinary committee suspended his ban for a year, a decision that prompted widespread condemnation, particularly when it emerged US President Donald Trump and White House officials had lobbied football's world governing body about the American's sanction. Balogun scored three goals at the World Cup and was able to start the USA's last-16 defeat by Belgium.
Uefa called the decision "unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable". The head of Fifa's disciplinary committee refused to answer BBC questions about the decision-making process which led to Balogun avoiding a ban, and Fifa president Gianni Infantino denied having influence over disciplinary decisions.
England's Jarell Quansah was similarly shown a red card in England's 3-2 win over Mexico following a high challenge on Jesus Gallardo, and the same committee ruled he should serve a two-match ban. It was classed as serious foul play, meaning the Bayer Leverkusen player was handed an extra match on top of the automatic one-game suspension by Fifa.
Monaco value Balogun at £40m, and whether Everton's offer will be enough for the French club to sanction a sale remains to be seen ahead of Tuesday's transfer deadline.
