AS Monaco plans to sell Folarin Balogun in the January transfer window, the team’s CEO Thiago Scuro confirmed, as the striker’s final months in the Principality.
The National Directorate of Management Control (DNCG), the financial watchdog of French soccer, has put the team under pressure to get its finances under control. It promised to balance its accounts by making player sales during the summer transfer window.
However, Monaco failed to complete transfers on deadline day, with Balogun heading to Everton and teammate Lamine Camara to Chelsea. In Balogun’s case, the move back to England hit a snag, as according to Scuro, the striker felt “uncomfortable” signing with the Liverpool-based team after questions about his fitness.
In an interview on RMC Sport, Scuro said it is Monaco’s top priority to sell Balogun in the winter to meet financial commitments. In addition, the coaching staff hopes the move can alleviate an imbalance in the squad as there is an overabundance of strikers.
“The original plan is to find a solution for Balogun. If we find that, it will give Monaco the opportunity to keep Lamine [Camara] and [Aleksandr] Golovin until the end of the season,” he said. “That is the ideal plan, but we can’t control the decisions and what will happen in the winter.”
As for Balogun, he has returned to training at the team’s performance center. According to reports, head coach Filipe Luís said Balogun needs to reach full match fitness before he can play. However, the Brazilian has hinted that he could return in their upcoming game against Lens.