Tottenham are in negotiations with Monaco over a deal which would bring the former Arsenal striker, Folarin Balogun, back to the Premier League.
Balogun's Career Path
Balogun came through the Arsenal academy after joining the club as an eight-year-old but made just a handful of senior appearances for the club, instead enjoying success out on loan in France with Reims. The striker scored 22 goals for the Ligue 1 outfit in the 2022-23 campaign to attract transfer interest from clubs elsewhere in Europe.
With Balogun's stock high, Arsenal sold the 25-year-old to Monaco in a deal worth €40million (£34.3m). Three years on, it seems the United States international could return to the Premier League, and north London.
Negotiations and Valuation
According to L'Equipe, Tottenham not only hold an interest in Balogun but have already held talks with Monaco to discuss a transfer for the striker. The same report claims that Balogun, who scored three goals for the USMNT at the World Cup this summer, is valued at around €60m (£51.2m) by Monaco. Any move would secure a windfall for Arsenal, who inserted a 17.5 per cent sell-on clause in the deal which took the striker to France.
Balogun unintentionally made headlines this summer when he was controversially shown a red card in the United States' victory over Bosnia & Herzegovina in the World Cup round of 32. That sending off should have seen him suspended for their round of 16 tie with Belgium, however, Balogun's ban was 'suspended' for one year following an intervention from FIFA. Donald Trump, the United States president, subsequently claimed credit for raising the red card with Gianni Infantino.
Tottenham's Summer Spending
Spurs have spent heavily this summer in a bid to progress under their new manager, Roberto De Zerbi, after narrowly avoiding relegation from the Premier League last season. The club finished 17th for a second consecutive season, though their top-flight status was only preserved on the final day of the season at the expense of West Ham.
Free transfers for Marcos Senesi, Andy Robertson and Martin Dubravka have all been completed. Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes and Jan Paul van Hecke have also been signed for significant transfer fees totalling around £237m.
