Monaco still plan to sell Folarin Balogun in January, little more than two weeks after the striker’s proposed £40m move to Everton collapsed on deadline day.
The 25-year-old came close to joining David Moyes’ side after travelling to Merseyside for a medical, only for concerns raised during that process to complicate the deal.
Everton and Monaco subsequently renegotiated the agreement and a deal sheet was submitted, but Balogun ultimately decided against the move.
Monaco chief executive Thiago Scuro has now made it clear that finding a solution for the striker remains part of the club’s plans when the transfer window reopens.
Monaco still expect Balogun to leave
Speaking to RMC Sport, Scuro admitted Balogun’s failed transfer had affected Monaco’s plans for January.
“What happened with him changes our plans for this winter a little. But that was the original plan: that we find a solution for Balogun.”
Scuro also admitted he was unhappy with Monaco’s summer business, with the club left overloaded in attacking areas and short of options elsewhere.
Balogun’s departure had been part of Monaco’s summer planning, with Matthis Abline brought in from Nantes earlier in the window. His continued presence therefore leaves Scuro with an issue he had expected to have resolved before the deadline.
What his comments do not tell us is whether Everton will return.
What happened to Balogun’s Everton move?
The circumstances surrounding Balogun’s failed move to Merseyside were unusually complicated.
As we reported at the time, Everton had agreed a £40m deal and put Balogun through a medical, but concerns raised during those checks led to further discussions between the clubs.
According to Scuro’s account after the window closed, Everton were eventually prepared to complete the transfer but Balogun, unhappy with how the medical situation had unfolded, chose not to sign.
The knock-on effect was significant for Monaco. They had agreed a £47m deal to sell Lamine Camara to Chelsea while Balogun’s move was in doubt, only to pull back from that transfer when negotiations with Everton were revived.
They ultimately ended deadline day with neither player sold. We looked at the fallout from that extraordinary sequence of events earlier this month.
Scuro’s latest comments tell us what Monaco want to happen next, but there is nothing yet to suggest Everton have decided to reopen negotiations.
Balogun may therefore be available again in January. Whether Moyes and Everton will still be interested after the way the summer move ended is another question entirely.
The latest comments were reported by the Liverpool Echo.
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