United States men’s national team head coach Mauricio Pochettino plans to reach out to striker Folarin Balogun in the coming days to offer his personal support following the dramatic deadline-day collapse of the player's proposed £40 million (€45 million) move to Premier League club Everton.
The 25-year-old forward spent transfer deadline day on Merseyside after Everton reached a multi-million-pound agreement with Ligue 1 side AS Monaco. However, the deal unravelled during late-stage medical assessments. Although Everton attempted to resolve the medical doubts and resubmit terms shortly before the transfer deadline, Balogun ultimately opted against signing the long-term contract.
Addressing the saga surrounding his key striker, Pochettino confirmed he had not yet spoken to Balogun directly since the transfer collapsed but emphasised that providing emotional and professional backing remains his primary goal.
"I want to know from him what happened, but always offering our support," Pochettino said regarding the situation. "He's an important player for us, was an important player in the World Cup, and I hope that he can find being in Monaco, or in another place, his best place to perform."
According to Monaco chief executive Thiago Scuro, the transfer broke down because Balogun felt uncomfortable with how Everton’s medical staff conducted their evaluations. "The allegation of Balogun is that: 'I'm not feeling well by the way the club treated me. I'm not feeling well by the way the medical department of Everton brought doubts about my future or my health,'" Scuro explained. "At the last moment, the player decided not to sign."
Balogun now faces an uncertain immediate future in France. Following the failed move, Monaco chose to omit the forward from their official squad registration for the upcoming UEFA Conference League campaign. Pochettino will monitor Balogun's situation closely as the national team prepares for its next international fixture window.
