AS Monaco sporting director Thiago Scuro has publicly confirmed the club’s intention to facilitate player departures during the upcoming January transfer window, explicitly identifying striker Folarin Balogun as a leading candidate to leave the Ligue 1 side. Speaking on RMC Sport’s Rothen s'enflamme, Scuro detailed that the club is looking to correct a summer recruitment strategy he deemed unsatisfactory, citing a need to rebalance the squad and achieve financial objectives that were not met before the close of the European window in August.
Status: Multiple independent sources.
Strategic Realignment at Stade Louis II
The sporting director’s comments on RMC provide a definitive admission that Monaco’s summer business fell short of expectations. After several projected sales failed to materialise on deadline day, the club finds itself with a bloated attacking unit and a requirement to clear space. "Obviously, we're going to see players leave this winter. It's important," Scuro stated during his appearance. "If we have the opportunity to give better balance to the team, we will do it. We have many players in the attacking sector, but I believe we lack options in other positions. I am not very happy with what we did this summer. And now, we need corrective solutions." Scuro’s public acknowledgement reflects the urgency behind the scenes at the club as they look toward January to rectify these structural issues.
The Deadline Day Collapse
Balogun’s current status at Monaco is directly linked to the chaotic conclusion of the summer transfer window. The 25-year-old was the subject of a serious pursuit by Everton, with a deal valued at approximately £40m reportedly agreed between the clubs. However, the move disintegrated in the final hours of August 30. According to reports confirmed by BBC Sport, the deal stalled when Everton raised concerns regarding the striker's medical assessment. While both clubs eventually concluded that the medical concerns were not justified—and indeed signed the relevant documentation to proceed—the move failed because the player refused to sign. Balogun, who had flown to Liverpool to complete the formalities, expressed significant frustration with how the process was handled and decided that he could not commit to a club that had questioned his fitness.
TransferNews Database and Market Data
The TransferNews database confirms that Folarin Balogun joined AS Monaco on August 30, 2023, following a high-profile move from Arsenal. His failure to secure a departure during the most recent window leaves Monaco in a difficult position. The club’s objective of raising liquidity remains unfulfilled, and their stated plan to offload attacking personnel means Balogun is effectively surplus to requirements. While the initial valuation of £40m was established during the summer, any future negotiations in January are likely to be complicated by the narrative surrounding the collapsed medical in August. Interested clubs will likely exercise heightened caution, and the public nature of Monaco’s requirement to sell may limit the selling club's leverage in future discussions.
Squad Balance and Financial Constraints
Monaco’s squad planning was heavily disrupted by the late collapse of transfers for both Balogun and fellow Monaco star Lamine Camara. The club entered the 2026 summer window under pressure from Ligue 1 financial regulations, requiring liquidity that the failed sales did not provide. Balogun has faced additional challenges in the early part of the season, having been involved in a fitness recovery process after reportedly playing through a knee injury during the USA’s World Cup campaign. With the Ligue 1 season underway, Monaco is now prioritising defensive or midfield depth, meaning they will be highly motivated to resolve the forward’s future immediately when the winter window opens on January 1. The club’s leadership appears aware that they cannot afford another failed window and is positioning the January market as an essential period to realign their financial and competitive trajectory.
