Balogun's Everton Move Collapses on Deadline Day
Monaco says Balogun refused to sign after Everton's medical raised injury doubts, a collapse that also wrecked Chelsea's bid for Lamine Camara.
Monaco's sporting director has offered the club's account of why Folarin Balogun's move to Everton fell through on Deadline Day, saying they had already lined up a replacement for the striker before his medical raised objections from the medical staff.
Everton had agreed a fee worth €45m, plus €5m in add-ons, for the United States international on the Monday evening, with Beto already sold to Fiorentina to make room for him. Balogun flew into Liverpool John Lennon Airport on Tuesday and underwent his medical at Finch Farm, but Everton flagged evidence of an injury that both Monaco and the player disputed. With the 11pm deadline closing in, Everton tried to renegotiate the fee downward in case the issue proved genuine.
The fallout did not stop at Balogun. Monaco had already pulled out of selling midfielder Lamine Camara to Chelsea, who wanted him as a replacement for Enzo Fernandez, leaving three clubs frustrated by the time the window shut.
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