Monaco and USA striker Folarin Balogun has been offered to Tottenham Hotspur this summer, according to reports.
The 25-year-old has spent three seasons at Monaco after signing from boyhood club Arsenal in 2023 in a deal worth £35m. The forward never really broke through with the Gunners, scoring twice in 10 first team appearances, but shone on a loan spell with French side Reims in 2022/23, where he scored 22 times in 39 outings.
Monaco snapped him up after that breakout campaign and, although he has not replicated that goal-scoring form since, he did net 19 times last season in all competitions.
World Cup controversy
Balogun has also become a leading light for USA and was at the centre of international controversy at the World Cup this summer. The New York-born striker had scored three goals at the tournament but was shown a red card in the last 32 meeting with Bosnia-Herzegovina, meaning he was set to be suspended for the last 16 clash with Belgium.
His ban was then suspended after political interference from the US government and he played in the defeat to the Belgians amid huge backlash to FIFA’s decision.
Premier League return?
With that controversy behind him, Balogun’s club future is now the subject of speculation, with the possibility of a return to the Premier League on the cards. The Sun report that the USA star has been offered to Spurs via intermediaries, suggesting Monaco are open to letting him go for a ‘competitive’ price.
Tottenham are in the market for a new striker as they look to continue their summer spending, with Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson also believed to be on their radar. The Senegal international would undoubtedly be a more expensive acquisition as Chelsea value him at £65m.
Aston Villa are also interested in the forward who was on loan at Bayern Munich last season, with Unai Emery keen on reuniting with Jackson, who he managed at Villarreal. The Villains appear to be leading the chase for his signature, having cashed in on Morgan Rogers who has moved to Chelsea for £117m.
Richarlison's future uncertain
Spurs boss Roberto De Zerbi currently has Richarlison as one of his options up front, but is uncertain how long that will remain the case.
‘I don’t know because I like him as a player and as a guy,” De Zerbi said of the Brazilian last week. ‘He’s unbelievable in terms of attitude and behaviour. But, in the end, we have to respect what he wants to do.
‘I don’t know [if he wants to leave]. I didn’t understand well because sometimes he says he wants to stay, sometimes he wants to leave. We have to speak anyway. There is not any problem. He’s a lovely guy.
‘For me, he’s still an important player because it’s not easy to find another striker like Richarlison. Richarlison scores goals. He knows the way. With any new striker, we don’t know.
‘He scored 12 goals last season, not because of luck but because he knows how to score.
‘All of us love him, the team-mates, the club and the staff because he works hard every day, seriously every day, and we can’t say anything about him on the pitch.’
