USMNT’s Folarin Balogun Attracting Transfer Interest—Where Could He End Up?
USMNT’s Folarin Balogun Attracting Transfer Interest—Where Could He End Up?
The young striker has plenty of options and is only boosting his price tag this summer.Tom Gott|
U.S. men’s national team striker Folarin Balogun has a growing number of clubs interested in agreeing a transfer with current employer Monaco—and the World Cup star is reported to be keen on accepting a new challenge.
The Athletic state Monaco, who are former Ligue 1 winners, could demand a fee of around $57 million (€50 million, £43 million) to sell the 24-year-old. Balogun netted 18 goals at club level last season and has scored twice at the World Cup for Mauricio Pochettino’s USMNT.
Such a sale would be the second-highest for a U.S. player, behind only Christian Pulisic’s $73 million switch to Chelsea in 2019, and it’s claimed that Balogun could have suitors from almost all of Europe’s top leagues.
The current iteration of the USMNT has representatives in the Premier League, Serie A, La Liga and the Bundesliga, as well as in Ligue 1 where Balogun plays. It could be that he’s tempted to move back to England to prove a point to those who doubted him, but seeing the likes of Weston McKennie, Malik Tillman and Alex Freeman thrive elsewhere means no option is likely to be off the table.
Here Sports Illustrated’s look at five potential landing spots for Balogun, that would make sense for both player and club.
Arsenal
Balogun came through Arsenal‘s academy but was sold without ever really getting a chance in the first team. Two goals in just 209 senior minutes was impressive but Balogun left with a sense of unfinished business with the Gunners.
Arsenal spent big on Viktor Gyökeres last summer but ended the season with Kai Havertz as their starting striker, leaving many believing manager Mikel Arteta may not be entirely satisfied with the options available to him.
Bringing Balogun, a homegrown talent, back to the club would be a great move for Arsenal, although whether the 24-year-old would accept such a move without a guarantee of regular starts is a different matter. He has, however, spoken glowingly about the opportunity to be closer to family on brief returns to London.
Chelsea
Chelsea already have far too many strikers, and yet the Blues are still in need of improvements. João Pedro has been an excellent addition, but at the other end of the spectrum, Liam Delap’s time at Stamford Bridge has been a massive disappointment and could be coming to an end this summer. Returning loanee Nicolas Jackson and new signing Emmanuel Emegha add to a bloated forward line.
If Chelsea opt to trim the numbers, Balogun could quickly become an intriguing prospect, not least because of his shared nationality with those calling the shots in west London these days. As a young player with the preferred mix of experience and potential, Balogun sounds like Chelsea’s ideal signing.
Much will depend on the opinion of new manager Xabi Alonso, who has been given significant influence in Chelsea’s transfer dealings after agreeing to replace Liam Rosenior. The new boss is expected to speak with all those already on the books before reaching any final verdicts.
Newcastle United
Last summer’s transfer window could go down in infamy for Newcastle United, who spent a huge sum of money but saw very little in return.
Strikers were a key part of that shopping spree as Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa arrived for around $164 million (£124 million), yet manager Eddie Howe quickly lost faith in both and is already thought to be chasing another starting striker.
There could be plenty of minutes available to Balogun at Newcastle, and the funds could easily be raised if the Magpies cash in on some of their unwanted fringe players.
Juventus
Like Newcastle, Juventus will look back on last summer’s transfer window with a lot of regret. Canada international Jonathan David was solid at best in his debut year, while Loïs Openda is available for transfer after Juve were forced to trigger a mandatory purchase clause for a player who scored just once in Serie A.
The pair could both be on their way out of Turin and would end up following another striker, Dušan Vlahović, out the exit door, leaving an overwhelming need for change in Turin. Few teams could offer Balogun the sort of assurances he could receive with Juventus, where he would link up with international teammate McKennie.
Monaco’s demands may be right at the top of Juventus’ current financial capabilities, but several expected sales could easily bring in the sort of money needed to get a deal over the line.
Borussia Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund have a long reputation for catapulting players towards superstardom, and the chance to be next in line could be appealing to Balogun as he seeks to cash in on the hype generated at the World Cup.
Current starter Serhou Guirassy is expected to leave and his departure would create an obvious void that Balogun could fill, while also generated the vast majority of the funds needed to convince Monaco to sell.
A few good seasons with Dortmund could easily see Balogun become one of the world’s most in-demand strikers and attract even more interest than he has already generated.
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TOM GOTTTom Gott is an associate editor for SI FC, having entered the world of soccer media in early 2018 following his graduation from Newcastle University. He specialises in all things Premier League, with a particular passion for academy soccer, and can usually be found rebuilding your favorite team on Football Manager.
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Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
