Photo by Franco Arland - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images
Photo by Franco Arland - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images
Just over a month ago now, Everton were very much in the headlines after failing to sign Folarin Balogun on transfer deadline day.
The club had targeted the USMNT striker at the end of the window, and on deadline day the decision was made to sell Beto to Fiorentina. But no deal for Balogun had yet been wrapped up.
In the end, Everton turned the player away from the move, after club officials expressed doubt about his condition at the medical stage. Balogun had been poised to sign, but walked away right at the death, leaving Everton high and dry with Thierno Barry as their only striker.
Balogun has now admitted he is still keen for a move to the Premier League, but Everton should not be tempted to reignite their interest.
Why Everton shouldn’t move for Folarin Balogun again
TalkSPORT have published some new quotes from Balogun, who still has his eyes on a move to the English top-flight.
He said: “Yes, potentially (he’d want a move in the future). Football has many twists and turns, as we’ve seen after the World Cup.
“I was close to a transfer, didn’t materialise, but for sure it’s definitely an option.”
So quite possibly, Balogun could be open to a transfer as early as the next transfer window, and no doubt Everton will be looking to bring someone in in January.
Perhaps there will be some temptation to try and move for Balogun again. But this would be unwise after what happened at the end of the summer window.
Obviously, there was the whole thing about Balogun’s condition, with officials clearly not being comfortable. But at the time there were also reports of Balogun not getting on the flight he was scheduled to, with BBC Sport reporting he was meant to fly at 7am on deadline day. He did not touch down on UK soil until around 1pm.
BBC also reported that what Everton flagged up at the medical was something ‘that would affect Balogun’s long-term availability’.
Realistically, there is probably very little chance that Balogun himself would entertain the idea of going to Everton anyway, after what happened.
But even so, Everton ought not to be tempted, especially given that he has barely played in the last month – so far, he’s had just one 14-minute cameo in AS Monaco’s last game before the international break.
Younes Ebnoutalib could make good alternative
It was recently suggested that Everton are tracking German striker Younes Ebnoutalib, who has made a very bright start to the 2026/27 with Eintracht Frankfurt.
Likened to the great Miroslav Klose, Ebnoutalib may well provide something a bit different to Balogun and Barry, with neither of those players particularly known for penalty box poaching.
But with Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton also both on his tail, any pursuit may not be straightforward.