Everton are in preliminary discussions with Monaco over a move for United States men's national team striker Folarin Balogun, with the 25-year-old emerging as the club's primary target to replace Beto, who is closing in on a move to Fiorentina.
Beto, 28, is due in Florence for a medical on Monday as the Italian club's interest in the Portuguese forward gathers pace. The Guinea-Bissau international has scored 25 goals in 113 appearances for Everton since arriving from Udinese for £25 million in 2023, but the club are now prepared to sanction his departure. Manager David Moyes had already indicated he was willing to allow the striker to leave, and with Beto set to go, Thierno Barry would be the only other senior centre-forward in the squad.
Balogun has two years remaining on his Monaco contract and is not expected to sign an extension with the Ligue 1 club. Monaco have already moved to cover his anticipated exit, bringing in Matthis Abline as a replacement. After Monaco's 2-0 win over Marseille on Sunday, club chief executive Thiago Scuro confirmed that talks over Balogun's departure are under way. "Yes, it is true that discussions are taking place regarding Balogun; that is also why we have already signed Abline. We are ready to maintain the quality of the team if Balogun leaves," Scuro told Ligue1+.
Balogun is a Brooklyn-born forward who represented England at youth level before committing to the United States. He came through Arsenal's academy from the age of eight and made 10 senior appearances for the club, with a loan spell at Middlesbrough following before he moved to Reims for the 2022-23 season. He scored 22 goals in 39 appearances there, which prompted Monaco to sign him permanently the following summer for an initial €30 million, with up to a further €10 million in add-ons.
He finished last season with 19 goals for Monaco and made his mark at the recent World Cup, scoring twice in a 4-1 group-stage victory over Paraguay — becoming the first USMNT player since 1930 to net a brace in a World Cup match. His tournament also attracted controversy when FIFA suspended a one-match ban he had received following a red card in the round of 32 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina, a decision that came after United States president Donald Trump contacted FIFA president Gianni Infantino and drew widespread criticism. Balogun went on to feature in the round of 16, where the United States were beaten 4-1 by Belgium.
Everton's summer business has already seen wide forwards Brennan Johnson and Tyrique George join on permanent deals. The club have also agreed in principle to re-sign Richarlison from Tottenham Hotspur, with Iliman Ndiaye moving to north London as part of a separate but connected arrangement. Talks with Fulham over right-back Kenny Tete, at around £9 million, are also advancing, while discussions continue over a potential loan for Manchester City's Jack Grealish.
A proposed £40 million sale of teenage midfielder Harrison Armstrong to Nottingham Forest was called off following a change of heart from owners The Friedkin Group, with Moyes also having implied he was against the deal.
Reporting: The Independent, The Athletic, TeamTalk.