Former Arsenal player now ‘interested’ in transfer as Spurs show interest in surprising move
Former Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun is thinking about a move this summer, especially with some unexpected interest from Spurs, reports say.
Balogun, who now plays for Monaco, was a key part of the United States team reaching the World Cup last 16. Despite a bit of drama when FIFA paused his one-game ban after a red card in the round of 32, the 25-year-old still scored three goals in five matches.
Last season, he scored 19 goals for Monaco across all competitions. Arsenal sold him to the French club in 2023 for €30 million, a move that divided many Arsenal fans at the time.
Spurs are on the lookout for a new centre forward, after improving their midfield and defense under manager Roberto De Zerbi. There’s also a slim chance Spurs’ captain Cristian Romero could move to Arsenal, which would be a big surprise, though Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan seem like more likely destinations for him.
De Zerbi recently told reporters he’s close to landing a big signing, though the club’s latest signing is the £100 million deal for Sandro Tonali announced in early July.
According to Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke, Balogun is interested in coming back to the Premier League and is open to leaving Ligue 1 after three years in France. “The player would be keen on a move if the right chance came up,” O’Rourke said. “He’s definitely on Tottenham’s radar.”
Other clubs like Juventus, Borussia Dortmund, and even Sunderland have shown interest in Balogun this summer. All of them can offer European football next season, unlike Spurs, who finished 17th in the Premier League last term. Still, Spurs have attracted some exciting players under De Zerbi’s leadership.
Monaco’s new head coach Filipe Luis was asked about Balogun recently. He said he expects a lot of clubs to be interested because of Balogun’s great season and World Cup display. “He’s a special player with qualities you don’t find often,” Luis said. “If he stays, I’ll be very happy to have him with us.”