World Cup star green-lights move to Tottenham after talks opened

Tottenham are preparing to sign a major attacker as Roberto De Zerbi searches for a striker capable of changing his frontline.

Spurs have spent heavily across the squad this summer, but the centre-forward position remains unsettled.

Dominic Solanke endured an injury-hit campaign and has since attracted interest from Nottingham Forest, and while talk of an exit hasn’t gone anywhere just yet, his situation has given Tottenham another reason to explore the market.

Richarlison offers experience and aggression, but persistent fitness problems on his end have also made it difficult for Spurs to depend on him across a full season, even if he bagged 11 Premier League goals last season.

Cody Gakpo has been discussed because he can operate on the left or through the middle, and Spurs insider Paul O’Keefe has claimed De Zerbi views him as an alternative number nine.

Victor Osimhen has also been reportedly offered to Tottenham, although his cost and salary would make that a very complicated operation.

Villarreal striker Georges Mikautadze is another player admired by the club, while earlier reports also named Nicolas Jackson and Junior Kroupi among the options considered.

One name, however, has now moved ahead of the pack.

Monaco forward Folarin Balogun has emerged as the priority after Spurs began laying the foundations for a possible deal, as per reports from France.

Balogun was developed by Arsenal and made a handful of senior appearances before loans with Middlesbrough and Reims transformed his career.

His season at Reims established him as one of France’s most dangerous young finishers, convincing Monaco to pay a package worth around £34 million for him in 2023.

His first two years in Monte Carlo were disrupted by inconsistent form and a shoulder problem, but last season was far stronger.

Balogun scored 19 times in 41 appearances in all competitions, including five Champions League goals, and then carried that form into the World Cup, scoring three times as the USA reached the knockout stage on home soil.

Now according to Foot Mercato journalist Santi Aouna, Balogun has given his approval to a move to Tottenham.

Folarin Balogun gives green light to join Tottenham with talks ongoing

REUTERS/Blake Dahlin

Aouna also says that discussions between the parties are progressing, although Spurs have not yet submitted an official bid to Monaco.

Tottenham have persuaded the player, but they still need to find a price acceptable to a club that has him under contract until 2028.

Monaco are believed to value the striker at around £51 million, and their north London rivals Arsenal would also benefit from a sale after inserting a reported 17.5 per cent sell-on clause into the agreement that took him to France.

Balogun is quick, mobile and comfortable attacking space behind a defence, and those qualities could give De Zerbi a sharper counter-attacking threat without sacrificing the movement required from his central striker.

The player’s green light has removed one obstacle, but the difficult part now is turning positive conversations into an offer Monaco are prepared to accept for their star striker.