Balogun’s Everton move stalls as Ndiaye sale to Manchester City becomes prerequisite
The $50 million-plus transfer of USA striker Folarin Balogun from Monaco to Everton is at risk of collapsing in the final hours of the summer window, reportedly pending the finalisation of a separate sale to Manchester City.
The widely anticipated $50 million-plus transfer of Folarin Balogun from French Ligue 1 side Monaco to English Premier League club Everton is in danger of collapsing in the final hours of the European summer transfer window. Although the two clubs had reportedly agreed on the fee and the player had travelled to Liverpool to complete his medical, the deal is now stalled.
According to reports from the French sports daily L’Equipe, the holdup is caused by Everton needing to first finalise the sale of Senegalese forward Iliman Ndiaye to Manchester City. This dependency on a separate transaction has created a critical bottleneck as the deadline approaches at 11 p.m. in England.
Balogun, a 25-year-old New York-born striker who was raised in London, had been granted permission by Monaco to travel to Liverpool on Tuesday for his physical examination. The move was seen as a logical step for the player, who made 10 first-team appearances for Arsenal over parts of two seasons before his move to France.
If the transfer fails, Balogun may remain at Monaco until the January window opens. While this would not be a catastrophic outcome for the player or the United States national team, it would mean he misses the UEFA Champions League this season, as Monaco finished seventh in France’s top flight last term and will compete in a lower-tier European competition.
The uncertainty comes at a difficult time for Everton, who were left shorthanded in attack after sending veteran forward Beto to Italian side Fiorentina on Tuesday. The club had previously drawn interest in Balogun, who was considered a hot commodity following his breakout performance at the World Cup, where he scored three goals in four games.
Balogun’s form has been consistent in France, with 31 goals scored in three years at Monaco, including 29 in 85 Ligue 1 and UEFA Champions League matches. Under manager David Moyes, the American would be expected to complement target man Thierno Barry, though the physicality of the Premier League may present a new challenge for the Gunners product.
