Tottenham pursue Monaco striker Folarin Balogun in £51m transfer deal
Tottenham Hotspur have accelerated their pursuit of Monaco striker Folarin Balogun by laying the foundations for a £51m transfer.
Spurs manager Roberto De Zerbi is eager to drastically bolster his attacking options ahead of the new Premier League campaign.
The north London club are reportedly working on deals for Manchester City winger Savinho and Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo, but a central striker remains the priority.
According to French outlet L’Equipe, Tottenham have made a decisive move in recent hours to secure the USA international for a fee in the region of €60m.
Transfer record could be broken again
Tottenham have already shattered their transfer record twice this summer to bring in Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali.
With less than three weeks until the 1 September deadline, the club hierarchy are prepared to back De Zerbi heavily once more.
Newcastle United and several Spanish clubs have monitored the 25-year-old, but Spurs have now seized the initiative to bring him back to English football.
The forward enjoyed an outstanding domestic campaign for Monaco before starring for his country at their home World Cup this summer.
International praise from team-mates
He further enhanced his growing global reputation by netting three goals in just four tournament appearances.
National team colleague Christian Pulisic was quick to praise the lightning-fast striker following a decisive 4-1 victory over Paraguay.
He was absolutely insane out there.
The impressive displays have convinced the Spurs recruitment team that he is ready to lead the line in the Premier League.
Richarlison facing potential exit
The potential arrival of the American casts significant doubt over the long-term future of Richarlison.
The Brazilian is increasingly linked with a move away from the capital, with Spurs reportedly demanding £40m to sanction his departure.
Since his £60m arrival from Everton in 2022, the forward has managed 32 goals in 133 appearances but has struggled to justify his enormous price tag.
De Zerbi is widely expected to overhaul his forward line, and the former Monaco star is viewed as a clear tactical upgrade.