Folarin Balogun has reportedly been offered to Spurs through intermediaries, and Arsenal could benefit if Monaco cash in.
Folarin Balogun could be at the centre of one of the summer’s more surprising transfer stories after reports claimed the former Arsenal striker has been offered to Tottenham Hotspur, a move that could also hand the Gunners an unexpected financial boost.
The proposal is understood to have come from Balogun’s representatives rather than Tottenham themselves, with intermediaries reportedly approaching the club to establish whether head coach Roberto De Zerbi would be interested in pursuing a deal.
Tottenham are in the market for a striker, while Balogun’s future at Monaco has reportedly become increasingly uncertain despite the United States international still having two years remaining on his contract.
Monaco are said to be prepared to sell for the right price, with Juventus, Borussia Dortmund, Sunderland and other English clubs also credited with an interest in the 25-year-old.
The asking price remains unclear.
One report values Balogun at around £40 million. More recent reports simply state he is available for a competitive fee without attaching a specific figure.
Any transfer would also be significant for Arsenal.
Balogun joined the club’s academy as a 10-year-old and developed into one of its most prolific youth forwards, scoring 25 goals in 19 matches for the under-18s during the 2018/19 season, helping them win the Under-18 Premier League South title before signing his first professional contract in February 2019.
Arsenal sold Balogun to Monaco in August 2023 for around €40 million, or £34.4 million, plus add-ons after deciding they could not guarantee him the regular number nine role he wanted.
Crucially, the Gunners are also reported to have negotiated a 17.5 per cent sell-on clause, meaning they would receive a share of any profit Monaco make if the striker is sold.
Should Monaco secure a fee above what they originally paid, Arsenal would stand to receive an additional payment without lifting a finger.
For now, however, the story remains at an early stage.
There is no agreement between Tottenham and Monaco, and no formal offer has been made. The reports describe an agent-led proposal rather than an active pursuit, while Spurs are also said to be weighing up Nicolas Jackson and other striking options before deciding how to proceed.
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