Tottenham Hotspur Eyeing A Surprise Move For USA International:
Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly considering a shock move for Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun.
The north London side are in the hunt for a Harry Kane replacement following his big-money move to Bayern Munich. They have signed young striker Alejo Veliz from Rosario Central but new manager Ange Postecoglou is keen to add more firepower to his attack before the transfer window slams shut.
According to Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, Arsenal’s Folarin Balogun is one of the options under consideration by Tottenham to replace Kane.
Balogun, 22, notched 22 goals and three assists across 39 appearances in all competitions on loan at Stade de Reims. The USA international, whose contract at the Emirates Stadium is set to run until June 2025, has been clear in his desire to avoid going on loan again. The striker is open to leaving Arsenal permanently this summer as he feels he has proved he can operate at the highest level.
The report adds Balogun’s performances have also caught the attention of Inter Milan, who view him as the perfect replacement for Romelu Lukaku.
Folarin Balogun to Tottenham—Right move?
Harry Kane’s mega-money switch to Bayern Munich means there is a gaping hole in the centre of Spurs’ frontline, which Ange Postecoglou should look to fill. Postecoglou currently has Richarlison, Son Heung-min and Alejo Veliz as options up front, although the latter is a player for the future and unlikely to play regular football this season.
Armed with £100m following Kane’s sale, the new Tottenham boss wants to splash the cash on a new striker and has surprisingly set his sights on Folarin Balogun. A youth product of the Arsenal academy, Balogun—having struggled to find regular game time at the Emirates Stadium—joined Stade de Reims on loan last season. The 22-year-old enjoyed a stellar season with Stade de Reims in Ligue 1 with 22 goals in 37 games, demonstrating that he has the attributes required to play at the highest level.
However, it is believed that Arsenal are ready to cash in on Balogun this summer as Mikel Arteta can’t offer him regular first-team football, having already got Gabriel Jesus, Eddie Nketiah and Kai Havertz at his disposal. As a result, Tottenham are trying to take advantage of Balogun’s situation and sign the player.
Quick, strong and clinical in front of goal, Balogun would be a perfect fit in Postecoglou’s high-pressing system at Spurs. At 22, the United States forward has a long way to go in his career and could fulfil his huge potential under the watchful eyes of Postecoglou. All in all, he could turn out to be a great long-term acquisition for Tottenham.
However, having come up through the youth ranks at the Emirates Stadium, it remains to be seen whether Folarin Balogun would opt to join Arsenal’s bitter rivals, or if the Gunners would even be willing to do business with Spurs.
READ MORE:
Transfer target has impressed Spurs analysts with his ‘really good data’ – Journalist reports
The Telegraph’s Mike McGrath has revealed that Tottenham are interested in Tosin Adarabioyo because the Fulham defender’s data and statistics really stand out.
Tottenham are seemingly not done straitening at centre-back despite their signing of Micky van de Ven, with Ange Postecoglou himself confirming at the start of last week that the club are looking to make more additions at the back (Football.London).
Adarabioyo has been linked with a move to Spurs for several weeks but there have been some mixed reports on the North London club’s pursuit of the defender recently.
While GiveMeSport suggested last week that the Cottagers star is no longer a priority for Tottenham, who have turned their attention to Torino’s Perr Schuurs instead, Dan Kilpatrick suggested on the Tottenham Way Podcast that the 25-year-old is still on the Lilywhites’ radar.
Meanwhile, reports from France over recent days have suggested that Adarabioyo is edging closer to a move to Monaco (Foot Mercato).
Adarabioyo has impressed the Tottenham analysts
McGrath has now suggested that it is the England Under-21 international’s defensive metrics that brought him to the attention of Tottenham’s recruitment team.
He told Last Word on Spurs: “Adarabioyo at Fulham is a really interesting one actually. He’s not necessarily one that you’d say is an absolute top-five centre-back, but I do know that the analysts love him and he does have really good data.”
Spurs Web Opinion
It is now far from clear who Tottenham’s top target is for the right centre-back role. The speculation linking Tapsoba and Adarabioyo with a move to the North London club has died down while it is not clear if the interest in Schuurs is concrete.
I would not be surprised if Spurs surprise people by making a move for Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi over the next couple of weeks.
Leave a Reply