Monaco Already Have a January Plan for Folarin Balogun After Everton Move Collapses

Folarin Balogun's failed Everton transfer has not changed Monaco's long-term thinking about the USMNT striker.

It has simply pushed the decision into the next transfer window.

Monaco CEO Thiago Scuro has confirmed that the club's original plan is still to find a buyer for Balogun in January, with the striker's departure potentially allowing Monaco to keep two of their other highly sought-after players for the remainder of the season.

That makes Balogun's future one of the major transfer stories to watch when the January window opens.

Everton Move Collapsed at the Final Moment

Balogun came extremely close to leaving Monaco on deadline day.

The striker travelled to England for a medical ahead of a proposed move to Everton, with Monaco expecting the transfer to provide both a significant fee and relief from his wages.

However, questions raised during the medical created complications.

Scuro later said Monaco's medical team and Balogun's personal medical staff did not share Everton's concerns. The deal nevertheless reached the final stages before Balogun ultimately decided not to sign.

The move collapsed, leaving the 25-year-old back in Monaco.

Monaco Still Want a January Solution

Rather than treating Balogun's continued presence as a permanent change of plan, Scuro has now confirmed that Monaco intend to revisit his situation in January.

The club's CEO described finding a solution for Balogun as the “original plan”.

That wording is significant.

Monaco are not simply waiting to see whether another club happens to make an offer. They are actively planning around the possibility of his departure during the winter window.

However, Scuro also acknowledged that the club cannot completely control what happens in January.

A suitable buyer, the player's decision and the financial terms will all have to align.

Balogun's Exit Could Protect Two Other Stars

The most interesting part of Monaco's plan is what Balogun's sale could mean for the rest of the squad.

Lamine Camara and Aleksandr Golovin were both involved in transfer speculation during the summer.

Camara came close to joining Chelsea, while Golovin attracted interest elsewhere.

Monaco ultimately kept both players.

According to Scuro, successfully finding a solution for Balogun in January would give the club an opportunity to keep Camara and Golovin until the end of the season.

That makes the American striker's future part of a much larger squad-planning equation.

The Financial Pressure Behind the Decision

Monaco's transfer strategy is also connected to their financial obligations.

The club has been working to reduce its wage bill and satisfy requirements set by French football's financial regulator, the DNCG.

Scuro explained that Monaco had expected Balogun's summer transfer to help significantly with those objectives.

When the Everton deal collapsed, that financial plan was disrupted.

The club now has to find another way to balance the books, with a January Balogun sale potentially providing the solution they originally expected during the summer.

What Happens to Balogun Until January?

The immediate situation is less straightforward.

Balogun remains a Monaco player, but he was left out of the club's European squad and has not featured in their competitive matches this season.

That leaves the striker facing an uncertain period before the January window arrives.

Monaco could still explore opportunities in markets whose transfer windows remain open, although the latest comments from Scuro suggest January is now the central target.

For Balogun, the next few months could therefore become an audition for potential suitors — if he gets the opportunity to play.

A Transfer Saga That Is Not Over

The dramatic Everton collapse may have ended one transfer story, but it did not end Balogun's Monaco future debate.

Instead, it appears to have delayed the next chapter.

Monaco wanted to sell him in the summer, came extremely close to doing so, and ultimately saw the move disappear at the final stage.

Now Scuro has publicly confirmed that the club's preferred solution remains a transfer in January.

For Balogun, that means his time at Monaco could already have an expiry date.

And for Camara and Golovin, the success or failure of that January plan could have major consequences for their own futures.

Fan Debate

⚽ Goal: Balogun remains at Monaco after his Everton move collapsed.

🔥 Fire: Monaco are already planning another attempt to sell him in January.

😲 Shock: His potential departure could help Monaco retain Lamine Camara and Aleksandr Golovin.

👍 Like: Balogun still has an opportunity to change the situation before January.

💬 Comment: Should Monaco give Balogun a fresh opportunity before deciding his future?