Former USA international goalkeepers Brad Friedel and Kasey Keller have described Folarin Balogun's collapsed transfer deadline day move to Everton as a real shame.
Everton had agreed a big-money deal for the Monaco forward and allowed Beto to leave for Fiorentina. However, an issue was flagged during the USA World Cup star's medical, triggering a dramatic chain of events.
Deal restructured before collapse
Everton restructured the transfer fee with Monaco to a much lower figure than originally agreed. The French club accepted the new terms, and both clubs plus Balogun were happy to sign a deal sheet just before the 11pm deadline to complete the move.
However, an hour later, the former Arsenal striker made clear he wanted to return to Monaco, where he has made just one substitute appearance this season. The collapse left Everton boss David Moyes with only one senior striker, Thierno Barry, who has scored five goals in seven games in all competitions this campaign.
US legends on Balogun's quality
Friedel, formerly of Liverpool, Blackburn Rovers, Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur, told Jackpot City Casino: "I think Folarin Balogun knows the Premier League and has the quality to play in it."
"Everton was probably a perfect-sized club for him, to be honest, one that carries a lot of pressure from its history and tradition, but isn't expected to be in that top six, and has one of the very best managers to ever be in the Premier League in David Moyes, who would have been excellent for him," he added.
"Putting my United States hat on, I was sorry to see the deal fall through because I think it would have been great for him and the US. Everton lost out on a very good person on and off the field and a very good player. I don't know why it collapsed other than what I've read."
Friedel continued: "I don't know Balogun personally, so I've never spoken to him. I really don't know if there was a last-minute renegotiation from Everton or if Balogun just didn't like the feel of it. It's all speculation, but it's a real shame, he had flown there, so there was clearly an intention to get the deal done."
Keller backs Balogun for Moyes
Keller, formerly of Millwall, Leicester City and Tottenham, told Casinostugan: "I think Flo is a willing runner in behind, and I think last season, is where you saw his greatest return. And then he followed that form into the World Cup, which was great."
"That goalscoring touch, and being in the right place at the right time. A lot of that, it's not like he was in the right place, he was in the right place because he did a lot of work to get into the right place. And I think that was an evolution," he said.
"There are a lot of strikers who will be like 'give me the ball and I will score'. No, you've got to get to a place where somebody can give you the ball to score. So when they get to that point where they don't have to think about their movement, where it becomes so ingrained, I think Balogun had moved into that realm."
Keller added: "I don't know what is going to happen now. When you start at Arsenal, go to France, start to have success in France, I think it was a little bit too much to say we will go right back to a top-four team. So I liked the idea of going to Everton, in a place where they want you with a manager like Moyes."
"I don't know how that thing blew up but it's a real shame. It's kind of really stunted Balogun's development, and I think it would have been a good move for Everton. I would have loved to have seen him playing at Everton week in week out."
Everton are unbeaten in all seven matches this season and return to action on October 11 away to Hull City in the Premier League.
