Tottenham Hotspur are weighing up a move for Monaco striker Folarin Balogun, with the American forward now firmly on their summer shortlist.
The focus at Tottenham this transfer window is to strengthen the squad after a disastrous league campaign that saw them finish 17th for the second consecutive season.
Relegation was a real threat, with Spurs only confirming their Premier League status on the final day thanks to a 1-0 win over Everton.
A rebuilding project has since begun, with defensive reinforcements already added in Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi, Jan Paul van Hecke and Martin Dubravka.
These signings are not surprising given Tottenham’s defensive struggles last season, ranking as the 17th-worst backline in the division.
Tottenham eye Folarin Balogun transfer
There is an expectation that Spurs will also strengthen midfield and attack. Spurs Web have reported links with Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali as preferred midfield options, while Savinho, Marcus Rashford and Crycensio Summerville are among the wide players linked.
According to Foot Mercato, Tottenham are also targeting a centre-forward, with Monaco’s Balogun on their shortlist.
The 24-year-old scored 13 goals and registered five assists in Ligue 1 last season, and has impressed further at the FIFA World Cup with the USA, netting twice and earning man of the match awards in both appearances.
His performances have caught the eye of several clubs, with Paris Saint-Germain considered Tottenham’s biggest competition as they look to replace Gonçalo Ramos.
Chelsea are also said to be interested, adding another Premier League rival to the race.
Journalist Sebastien Denis even added that Tottenham have made Balogun a ‘priority’ signing.
Spurs could become Balogun’s second North London club
Balogun is no stranger to the Premier League, although he has made just two appearances in the English top flight.
Those came during his time at Arsenal, where he came through the youth academy and made 10 senior appearances in all competitions for the Gunners, Tottenham’s bitter North London rivals.
With his Arsenal connection now firmly in the past, it would certainly be interesting to see whether he would be willing to make the move across North London.
In fact, over the last decade, it has become extremely rare to see players represent both clubs, with Emmanuel Adebayor the most recent to do so.
Players who represented Arsenal and Tottenham:
| Player | Arsenal FC | Tottenham Hotspur FC |
|---|---|---|
| Emmanuel Adebayor | 2005–2008 (125 apps, 54 goals) | 2011–2014 (106 apps, 40 goals) |
| David Bentley | 2003 (1 app) | 2008–2010 (47 apps, 3 goals) |
| Sol Campbell | 2001–2009 (187 apps, 10 goals) | 1992–2000 (257 apps, 10 goals) |
| Anna Filbey | 2017 (1 app) | 2019–2020 (18 apps, 1 goal) |
| William Gallas | 2006–2009 (127 apps, 13 goals) | 2010–2012 (76 apps, 1 goal) |
| Mana Iwabuchi | 2021–2022 (20 apps, 2 goals) | 2022 (10 apps, 0 goals) |
| Emma Mitchell | 2017–2019 (33 apps, 3 goals) | 2019 (4 apps, 2 goals) |
| Jessica Naz | 2017 (2 apps) | 2020–2025 (95 apps, 9 goals) |
| Gracie Pearse | 2020 (0 apps) | 2022–2023 (1 app) |
| Viktoria Schnaderbeck | 2018–2021 (28 apps) | 2021 (4 apps) |
| Barbora Votíková | 2025 (0 apps) | 2023 (6 apps) |